Antwerp has taken a new direction. Many older boys have left and younger talent has arrived. But more needs to be added if The Great Old wants to play for the prizes, says Marc Degryse.
So there is still a lot of work to be done for Luciano D’Onofrio. “You’re not going to scare Club with this. Neither are Ghent. Those two will continue to have a head start, they didn’t lose any important players. David hasn’t left Ghent either, has he,” he says in HLN. “Leko has to form an Antwerp 2.0, new style, against competitors that are more stable than ever. He has to look for recognisability, and that will take time.”
The analyst therefore pleads for giving Leko time. “Fitting in those new boys, whoever they are, doesn’t happen in one, two, three. A transition to something new takes time. In the short term, it is very difficult to be there immediately, regardless of the names of transfers. Gun Leko until New Year and then see how far Antwerp is. The first half of the competition will be finding a balance between playing something more offensive, conveying ideas and system. Leko’s approach will entail a little more risk. He will want to dominate, otherwise then under Bölöni. “
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