Last week, our Mannekes suffered a defeat away at Dender. After a tough match, the final score was 2–0. Bas Van den Eynden looks back one last time on a frustrating afternoon: “We never really got into our stride. Following the good performance the week before, it was up to us to make Dender feel from the very first minute that there was nothing in it for them. However, we didn’t manage that. Dender took the initiative in the first half and we failed to create any real chances. Things went better after the break, but just as we were starting to apply a bit more pressure, Dender scored a second goal. It’s particularly painful, of course, when you realise we had a packed away end behind us,” says Bas.
There isn’t much time to dwell on the defeat. A new challenge awaits us on Saturday against RSCA Futures, this time in Deinze. “Our supporters will be out in force there too, backing us from the very first minute. It’s up to us now to get off to a good start and take the initiative straight away. RSCA Futures are a side who also like to have possession and dictate the play. We want that too, and it’s up to us to use our maturity to claim that initiative. If we then finish our chances clinically and defend more sharply at the back than last week, I’m convinced we’ll be able to make our supporters proud this time.”
The Futures lost their first two matches against Patro Eisden and Virton and are therefore also looking for their first win. For the Mannekes, the priority is to return home with three points and thus avoid a false start. Can we expect an open game? “I think so. I expect a high-intensity match, in which both teams will be looking to score the opening goal. It will be important to stay focused throughout the match. As a defence, we want to keep a clean sheet again. Our plan is clear and I’m confident in it,” concludes a determined Van den Eynden.
See you tomorrow at 4.00 pm at the Burgemeester Van De Wiele Stadium.
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