Jan Vertonghen’s injury is a small disaster on all levels at RSC Anderlecht. In the short term, it means that Zanka will once again be on the pitch, much to the displeasure of Anderlecht supporters.
We almost wrote “from its supporters”, but that would have been a wording error: it has been clear since the last match of the year at Lotto Park, the RSC Anderlecht supporters are no longer behind Loop. The divide has been complete since a new disastrous match for the Dane against Dender, during which he was directly involved in the opposing 2-2.
It was easy to imagine the sequence of events: Jan Vertonghen, acclaimed during his warm-up that same evening, should have taken the starting place which is naturally promised to him as soon as he is physically capable of playing. Zanka, for his part, would have had a little time to put his head back together, to be forgotten by the public… and, perhaps, to reconsider his future in Brussels.
But from now on, everyone will have to bite the bullet. Jan Vertonghen, whose injury is a big blow but does not a priori call the future into question since it is not a relapse of his previous problems; Zanka, who will perhaps start Thursday in the Cup… or even Sunday in the championship.
New Year’s Truce for Zanka?
And, of course, the RSC Anderlecht public. Ask 100 people around Astrid Park for their opinion: there will be few who are ready to give Anderlecht’s new Turkish head another chance. But if he plays Thursday, it’s still hard to imagine the entire Mauve & Blanc kop booing Zanka with every touch of the ball throughout the match.
One thing is certain, however: as long as David Hubert decides to realign Zanka, he will no longer be allowed to make mistakes. Against Beerschot, he has already been in difficulty twice this season: if Marwan Al-Sahafi plays him again on Thursday, we will no longer be able to forgive him.
Of course, there are other options… but Amando Lapage has not yet been started by Hubert, even against Tubize-Braine; starting 2025 by aligning it would be a strange risk on his part. There remains the possibility of Leander Dendoncker, but against Bruges, in particular, the Red Devil took on water in central defense. He has since been moved back to the middle and that seems to suit him much better. David Hubert is not the type to let the whistles of the public decide for him: Zanka could well start 2025 as a starter. And everyone will hold their breath…
