“Okay, you can always lose, they were just better. But we kept making mistakes, positionally and individually,” said the coach. “Because we just gave it away, I was extra disappointed. I already said it: in the last four matches we have conceded ten goals, which is too many. And that’s not just the fault of the defenders. The mistakes have to be corrected by the entire team.”
That strong block that Hasi emphasized so much when he was just appointed in November seems to be showing some cracks. “There is nothing wrong with the block, that is what it says,” the trainer replies. “But you also just have to play good football. You cannot defend for ninety minutes, not even against the strongest team in Play-off 2. I even thought that we rushed forward too much in the last matches. We have caused this ourselves by gaining so much confidence in recent months. But the difference with the past is that we now do it all with less intensity.”
Too much respect, too little courage
It seems as if the players have started to think that everything will happen automatically, Hasi suggests. Too much respect for the opponent and not enough courage, sounded in unison with his captain Rob Schoofs. “The mindset is different now,” Hasi stated. “The boys have been playing football on a cloud for a long time. We are no longer used to this series – winning occasionally, losing occasionally. But that should not make us doubt. We also won twice, right,” Hasi emphasizes the positive.
READ ALSO. “The only positive thing for KV Mechelen is that Slimani scores again, although he certainly does not lack confidence”
© Isosport
“If we don’t get a positive result at Standard tomorrow and Ghent wins, it will be difficult. But it is also the other way around and then anything is possible. I want to play for that first place until the end,” said a determined Hasi.
“If we don’t get a positive result at Standard tomorrow and Ghent wins, it will be difficult. But it is also the other way around and then anything is possible. I want to play for that first place until the end”
Besnik Hasi
Coach KV Mechelen
Standard, Tuesday’s opponent, only took 3 out of 12 in the Europe Play-offs and has not yet won, but scored six times in the last two games. “The audience is always interesting at Sclessin, hopefully we won’t have it against us directly. And hopefully they don’t immediately get the audience on board. That can do a lot. Just think of our home match against RWDM (3-1), where we suddenly started to have a blast at the end thanks to the audience.”
Foulon is doubtful, Belghali is partly training
Everyone at KV Mechelen is fit, only Daam Foulon is doubtful. “Today it went better, but after Ghent he had some problems with a muscle near the hip. The ultrasound we had today showed nothing, so it must just be a sensitivity,” Hasi explains. “Islam Slimani suffered from cramps in Ghent, so we still have to see how well he recovers.”
Boli Bolingoli’s performance in the Planet Group Arena was encouraging. “His last ninety minutes date from February 2023. He has been doing well in training for a while. Good news, because now we have some options if Daam does not get fit, with Boli, Patrick (Pick, ed.) and Sandy (Walsh, red.).”
More good news: Rafik Belghali is back on the training field. “He trains partly with the group, partly with the physio. He still trains without contact in match situations as a free man. For the time being, the doctors say that the last two matches are still possible for Rafik. But our medical staff prefers that he first has a proper preparation for next season and that we do not take unnecessary risks,” said Hasi.
#Mechelen #comeback #Standard #mistakes #removed
– 2024-04-23 10:45:52
