Sunday, Standard travels to La Gantoise. A trip that has often ended short for the Rouches in recent years.
It’s been five years since Standard last won at Ghent. Since this last minute success decided by a penalty from Razvan Marin in 2019, the Rouches have played nine times in what is now called the Planet Group Arena. They have lost eight times.
“Even if it remains a very complicated trip, we will have a chance if we display the appropriate mentality” explained Ivan Leko, true to himself at a press conference, in comments relayed by Le Soir.
“I expect a huge pressure from the start of the debates because it’s always like this in this stadium. We will have to respond with our weapons, solidarity but also a killer spirit as soon as an opportunity arises” continues -he.
Bates too fair
To do this, we will have to be more solid than in the last away matches. The Liégeois have only won once outside Sclessin since the arrival of Leko, it was at Dender: “We work on this aspect on a daily basis because you cannot offer different faces so easily. However, I remain convinced that my guys will continue their development. It takes patience and time.
The Croatian coach must also find patience when discussing the infirmary. His defense will once again be weakened in Ghent. They were Bolingoli made his return to collective training this week but will not yet be back immediately, Nathan Ngoy still has several months to go.
Hope remained regarding David Batesbut Leko put an end to it: “It will be too early for our Scottish defender. For the rest, the perspective does not change, namely that balance remains the key element when putting names on paper. We are facing a serious challenge, it’s a huge motivation which, I hope, will be reflected throughout the locker room.” The rearguard should therefore remain unchanged with the trio Lawrence – Hautekiet – Sutalo in front of Matthieu Epolo.
