Seven days after its success in Dender, Standard has the opportunity to confirm its progress, particularly offensively, this Friday evening with the reception of Union. A meeting prefaced by Ivan Leko, in a press conference.
Seven days after its victory on the Dender pitch, Standard will return to Sclessin for the first time since August 25, this Friday evening, with the arrival of Union Saint-Gilloise.
A match for which Ivan Leko will still be without Souleyman Doumbia and Boli Bolingoli, as the Croatian coach confirmed at a press conference on Thursday.
A few minor glitches, but nothing serious, at Standard
There is, however, a question mark over the fitness of Dennis Eckert Ayensa. The striker arrived from Union with a slight injury, is taking part in team training, but is not yet 100%. “He will be an important player for us,” assures Leko.
The Croatian cast a slight doubt during his weekly speech. “It was a good week of training, but we had a few small physical problems. Don’t panic, there’s really nothing serious,” said Leko. It’s impossible to know which player the T1 was talking about, who did not want to say more. Perhaps there will be a surprise absence on the match sheet this Friday, to remain cautious?
Pocognoli? Every coach needs time to put his method in place”
In any case, Ivan Leko will, as in Dender, arrange his Standard in 3-5-2, rather than 3-4-3 as at the beginning of the season. “The two teams will probably play in the same system, we know the strengths and weaknesses of it. We are also playing against a new team, which has lost a lot of players and has a new coach. They have made interesting transfers, but each coach needs time to put his method in place.”
“For our part, we obviously lose a midfielder when we play with two attackers. We lose possibilities in possession, but we gain in verticality and presence in the rectangle.”
On the Dender pitch, it was Isaac Price who paid the price for this change of system and who started on the bench. “It was not a message for him, but for the whole team. When the players are in shape, you have to make them play. In my mind, Isaac is always a starter, it doesn’t make a big difference if he comes on the bench. A player who stays three months on the bench, that, yes, that’s different” concluded Ivan Leko.
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