Club Brugge will play the second leg of the quarter-finals of the Conference League against PAOK Saloniki on Thursday evening. Club defends a 1-0 lead from the first leg, but according to Vincent Mannaert, outgoing general manager of Blue-Black, the chance of qualification is reduced by the Belgian play-off system.
For the fourth time in its history, Club Brugge can qualify for a European semi-final on Thursday evening (9 p.m.). That dates back to the 1991/92 season, when Club lost to Werder Bremen in the Cup Winners’ Cup. At the same time, blue-black can get back into the Belgian title race again next Sunday evening, with a win in Union’s Duden Park. Club is now two points behind Union, and five behind leader Anderlecht.
The question is whether Club can go all out for those two important agreements, or whether they have to choose. A difficult split. What do you prefer as a Belgian club? It was one of the reasons why Vincent Mannaert indicated a month ago that he was not a fan of the Belgian play-off system, in a extensive interview with Knack. During that conversation, he emphasized once again that he is convinced that a Belgian competition without play-offs is just as attractive and offers more guarantees of a healthier financial policy.
‘In fact,’ he added, ‘I think the play-offs are a handicap for our top clubs that play European football. After all, these ten intensive matches coincide with the decisive phases of the European competitions.’ As Club Brugge is now experiencing with two important matches in four days, against PAOK and Union.
Belgian title is (not) more important
Mannaert illustrated his opinion with an example. ‘In 2017, Anderlecht played extra time in the quarter-finals of the Europa League. And what did the trainer do then? He brought in his two best players, Sofiane Hanni and Dennis Praet, during those extra periods, because they had to be fresh for the succession of play-off matches.’
Ultimately, Anderlecht lost that quarter-final, but became national champions. ‘It is therefore more important to win the Belgian title than to excel in Europe. But I don’t see it that way,” says Mannaert. ‘How did Anderlecht, Club and Standard become top Belgian clubs with a following throughout the country? Yet because of their European results, by reaching the finals?’
Ostend ✈️ Thessaloniki wrap-up 🫔 #PAOKCLU #UECL pic.twitter.com/tiCybnpHjl
— Club Brugge KV (@ClubBrugge) April 17, 2024
The last time a Belgian football club reached a European final was in 1993/94. Then RAFC Antwerp lost to Parma at Wembley. At that time there were no play-offs yet.
The best European performance by a Belgian club since the introduction of the play-offs in 2010 were two quarter-finals in 2017: the Anderlecht match mentioned by Mannaert in 2017 and that of KRC Genk against Celta de Vigo in the same Europa League of the same year.
