It was a matter of time, but since the departure of Jesper Daland it is now clear to everyone: Christiaan Ravych is the new defensive leader of Cercle Brugge. In the run-up to the derby we spoke to him about Cercle’s European campaign, his evolution and messages from Dévy Rigaux, Director of Football at… Club Brugge.
Talk about a busy start to the season. The summer holidays aren’t even over yet and yet Cercle Brugge has already played ten (!) matches this season, partly due to the three European preliminary rounds. Christiaan Ravych played almost all of them. However, the 22-year-old defender doesn’t find this busy period to be a problem at all. “The more matches, the better. Especially because playing in Europe is something beautiful. The trips to Norway, Poland or Scotland are all fantastic experiences. Everyone wants to experience that, right?”, says the man from Kuurne.
History written
In terms of busy schedule, there is no immediate improvement in the coming months, because Groen-Zwart qualified for a European group stage for the first time in its history. “Is it really the first time? If you think about it, it is crazy”, beams Ravych. “It is very nice to be part of that and I am proud that we will always have a place in the history of Cercle. I even get goosebumps from it.”
“An away match at Chelsea in the Conference League would be a dream come true”
Today, the draw for the League Phase of the renewed Conference League is scheduled in Monaco. Cercle will face six opponents in the first round. Three times they will play at home, three times away. “I have already seen that we can play against Chelsea. Playing at Stamford Bridge would be a dream come true. That would also be fantastic for the supporters. Although there are still some very nice possible opponents with Fiorentina and Real Betis”, says Ravych. “I hope for one top team and four feasible tickets, because ultimately we also want to qualify for the next round. Although the term feasible ticket is relative, because playing against a team from Moldova or Latvia, for example, is sometimes even more difficult. You really shouldn’t underestimate anyone in a Conference League like this.”
Out of your comfort zone
For Ravych, this European campaign is a new step in his development. “You learn a lot from it,” he says. “You often play against teams that play in a different way than we are used to in Belgium, which takes you out of your comfort zone. Because of that busier schedule, you also get used to the quick succession of matches. That makes you more aware of your body and you learn to listen to your body better.”
The contrast with when he arrived at Cercle three years ago is enormous. “When I signed here, my goal was to play as many minutes as possible with the reserves. I knew then that I had something in me, but I didn’t expect it to happen so quickly afterwards. I grew so much in all aspects of football during that period that I am actually a completely different player than I was three years ago. And of course I forced that myself in the first place and I can certainly be proud of that, but the staff and the support also deserve nothing but praise for that. I joined the team as a young lad and then it is not always easy to find your place in a group of players, but because Cercle is such a family club, I was able to integrate quickly.
So much so that Ravych must become the new leader of the Cercle defence after Jesper Daland’s departure to Cardiff City. “I certainly want to play my part in that”, he confirms. “I think that after three years I will also be ready to take on that leadership role. I am an intelligent footballer who can read the game well, which I think also makes it easier to direct the players next to me.”
But doesn’t he dream of a transfer himself? “That probably won’t be before this summer. I’m not really thinking about that anyway. I really like being here and I owe everything to Cercle, so my focus is here. My agent has to arrange the rest,” says Ravych. He did say what his dream destination is: “The Premier League. I think I would fit in there with my speed and duelling strength. Italy, the country of defenders, would also definitely appeal to me. But again: that’s not on the agenda at the moment.”
Focus on the derby
Ravych doesn’t have much time to dream about that either, because the derby against Club Brugge is already waiting for him on Sunday. It is now well known that Ravych played ten years in the youth of blue-black before moving to green-black. Although the blue-black links have not completely disappeared. For example, he had Dévy Rigaux as a trainer at the U10 of Club. Today Rigaux is working as Director of Football at the national champion. “I still hear from him regularly”, says Ravych. “He sometimes sends me congratulations after a good match and also when it’s my birthday, I always get a message. Dévy was a really good trainer and I always had a good relationship with him. I think it’s great to see the path he has taken, even though I couldn’t have predicted that he would make it to Director of Football.”
“A transfer? I like being at Cercle and my focus is here”
However, Ravych will not have to expect a message from his ex-trainer on Sunday. Cercle will be ‘visiting’ the neighbours. A special match in any case. “Everyone knows that Jan Breydel can be bubbling in a derby. Although in that respect we are used to a few things from that away match in Poland. The atmosphere there was really a step higher. Those supporters were constantly shouting. At Club they sometimes tend to be a bit quieter when they are behind, but in Wisla we were 0-6 ahead and those Polish fans kept shouting and singing just as loudly. Still, when I talk about it, I already feel like going to the derby.”
For Cercle, gaining points is a must, because with four points – and admittedly one match less played – it is currently in the danger zone. Although according to Ravych there is no reason to panic. “That is of course not nice, but we just have to have confidence in ourselves and find that flow of last season again. We know that we can make it difficult for everyone if everyone carries out their tasks meticulously. We are not concerned about the fact that we are now in that danger zone. Although we would of course like to get out of that before the international break. That is exactly why we hope for a good result against Club and next week against Genk.”
){kind=link}