“This diptych against Antwerp will be decisive for us.” Union coach Alexander Blessin has put his team on edge after four consecutive defeats in these Champions’ Play-offs.
Union coach Alexander Blessin has once again underlined the importance of the diptych against Antwerp for Union. “These two games will be decisive for us, I think. It’s true that I don’t want to hear anything more internally about the title. If you lose four games in a row, that shouldn’t be the topic of conversation.” Blessin will carefully follow the matches of Club Brugge and Anderlecht on Wednesday evening. “If they both draw, I would be happy. But as always, we continue to focus on ourselves.”
It is the American basketball legend Michael Jordan who must propel Union to the first victory of these Champions’ Play-offs. “I showed a video of him to my players this week,” Blessin explained. “When such a legend tells that he has failed thousands of times in his life and takes responsibility for all his missed shots, it is inspiring. Ultimately it was successful. Sports always have ups and downs. It’s about how you fight back.”
The German also used Manchester City as an example to get his team mentally ready for the match against Antwerp on Thursday evening. “There is a series on Netflix about Manchester City about the treble last season. They also lost four matches in a row. Their players’ reaction afterwards was interesting to us. You know, every big club loses sometimes. Things never go well for an entire season. It’s happening at a shit moment for us now, but we can learn from this.”
Blessin put the fact that Anthony Moris made a mistake in recent weeks into perspective. “We have talked. I said after the match that I thought Club Brugge’s goal was a valid goal, but in the meantime I have seen that in Germany something like that is always whistled, well. Anthony Moris is so mentally stable. I have a good feeling after our conversation.”
