Club Brugge climb to 3rd place while Anderlecht fall to 7th in Division 5 after Club Brugge to do the double over Anderlecht in a very dominant performance. After the game we had a world with the 2 managers.


MIKE HUNT: Mr Muja, first of all unlucky on your derby defeat. You looked to get off to a flyer with Joel Campbell's early goal. Did the goal come too early?

MR MUJA: In my opinion a goal can never come too early. But after you gain the lead, you have too control the game, stay focused and most of all, keep playing your football. And we just didn't do that.

MH: You set out to attack, which backfired today, do u regret attacking a very strong defensive outfit?

MM: I've always had an attacking philosophy and i always will. Plus, we have great history at this club. Great history and an amazing group of supporters. An attacking style suits us well, it's what the fans want, it's what i want and it's what has been getting us a lot of wins. So, no, i don't regret this at all.

MH: You still occupy the final playoff place, what is your target for the rest of the season?

MM: Well, we suffered a tough blow in this derby loss. It's a blow we have to recover from and we have to do it quickly. There's a lot of games left and a lot to play for. Of course, our aim is to gain promotion, but i had a timetable of three years in my mind for that goal. I didn't expect us to be where we are today. But, in football, as in life, you have to seize the day. So maybe this is our chance to clinch a playoff spot and gain promotion straightaway. We'll have to play our best football to reach that goal, though. And we can't afford slipups like in our last game.


Next we caught up with the winning manager, Gordon 'Gino' Kinnear.

MH: Gino, congratulations on the win. What did you say to the boys at half time at 1-nil down?

GK: I told them not to panic. Apart from the goal, they had not given us any problems. Keep playing the way you are and the goal will come. I told Melgarejo to push up down the left as I sensed they were struggling down that side. Decided to go 3-5-2 by bringing Victor Vazquez and Javier Acquino to strengthen the middle of the park and try over run them in midfield. Once we got the equaliser I thought we had it in the bag and Pabon came up with the winning goal, and not for the first time.

MH: A couple of knocks for Pabon & Claudemir in quite a rough affair, will they be back for your short trip to Liege on Thursday?

GK: Both will be back training tomorrow. Claudemir took a thigh knock and Pabon took a kick to the ankle that the referee missed. In fact the referee seemed to miss most things except for booking two of our guys. Both players will be touch and go for Liege on Thursday and we certainly won't risk either of them if there is any doubt.

MH: That now makes it the double over Anderlecht in the derbies, not only bragging rights in work but that also lifts you into the automatic promotion places. Do you think you can go on and secure promotion?

GK: We have a talented bunch of players here but they know that there is no pressure on them this season to earn promotion. Do I think we can secure promotion? Yes of course but it is not an expectation. We have already done better than we had planned for as the season was all about building a side that can grow together and make progress every year so promotion and even a play off place will be a bonus.


A BIG THANK YOU TO BOTH MANAGERS FOR THEIR QUICK RESPONSE :)

Anderlecht make the 100km journey across Belgium to face Club Brugges looking for revenge after Kinnear's men won 3-1 in the reverse fixture earlier in the season.

Mike Hunt of the Daily Bush caught up with Club Brugges boss, Gordon 'Gino' Kinnear at Brugge Airport after they returned from Buenos Aires...



MH: After your long journey to Argentina and coming come after a heavy 5-2 defeat, what are you looking to do in preparation for your Belgian Derby?

GORDON KINNEAR: We won't do much different to what we usually do. The 5-2 defeat was very much one of they nights. We actually created more chances and had more shot on goal than River Plate but our defence just didn't click on the night. We will look over the tape and see what we could have done different but it wont affect our preparations for Anderlecht.

MH: With De Bock out injured do you feel your defence can hold be strong enough against Anderlecht?

GK: De Bock tore his calf muscle and he will be out for another fortnight and we certainly missed his presence in Argentina. Melgarejo filled the left back position and although there is no way any blame for the goals can be laid at his door, he feels, as do we, that his better work comes further up the park. We have one or two options we are looking at, including playing three at the back, but we also hope to have another experienced defender arrive at the club over the next 48 hours.

MH: On paper this looks to be a very even clash and can be backed up by how close you 2 are in the league. What is your prediction for the game?

GK: While our season has been better than we expected, the one disappointing thing is that we have won just 2 of our 11 home games which is very frustrating for us and more so for the fans. We can make a lot up to them if we can beat Anderlecht on Sunday. They will come here looking to make up for the result at their place but we believe we have the measure of them and that we are the best side in the country. Both clubs are in the hunt for promotion and there is always a chance we could meet in the play offs at the end of the season so another win for us would give us the psychological edge.

MH: Gordon, thank you for your time and good luck for the game.


Mike Hunt also caught up with Mr Muja of Anderlecht to discuss his chances in Sunday's derby game...

MH: With 7 wins and a draw in your last 10 games, you will be seen as the form team. Will this be an added pressure seeing as you lost the reverse fixture earlier in the season?

MR MUJA: Well, i don't see it as extra pressure. A derby is always special. Doesn't matter how many games you've won or lost before. Doesn't matter if your first or last in the league. Everyone will give a 100% to win this one game and everything is possible.

MH: Pabon has been the star man for Brugge this season, how do you feel your side can stop him?

MM: I don't want my players to go out there to stop someone, but to enforce our own playstyle on our opponents. I'm confident that we will bring our A-game and do just that.

MH: With both clubs sitting in playoff places, what is your prediction for the game?

MM: Predicting a game is never easy. But we're on a decent run. We're confident and more then ready for this game. We know Brugge has a nice young core of players, but i think we have all the tools to beat them.

MH: Thank you very much for your time and good luck in the derby.