The editorial staff of TuttoJuve.com contacted by telephone, exclusively, the correspondent who follows Club Brugge KV for the Belgian newspaper Het Laatste Nieuws, Tomas Taecke, to talk in depth about tonight’s challenge and more:
Brugge have not lost since October 22nd in the Champions League against Milan and are having a great moment in all competitions. What match do you expect against Juventus?
“Yes, Brugge are in excellent form and have not lost in 18 games in all competitions. In reality they are showing two faces this season: they shine in big games, they are less strong and less intense against lesser-rated opponents. On Saturday they won their eleventh consecutive match within friendly walls and they did it with some replacements, so I would say that they will arrive ready for tonight’s match.”
What are the Belgians’ strengths and players to keep an eye on most?
“In the Champions League they manage to be dangerous by playing their dynamic and pressure football. Against the big teams I have seen them fall back a bit and they often manage to be effective with midfielders of the caliber of Jashari, Onyedika and Vanaken. They tend to fall back. and therefore he is very very dangerous and changes with good midfielders, brilliant players like Ardon Jashari, Raphael Onyedika and Hans Vanaken, They are good in transitions, so everyone can become a problem in that juncture”.
How is Juventus seen in Belgium? What is the opinion on them?
“Obviously Juventus is seen as a top club, for many people of my generation it was their favorite team in the 90s because of its play and its international successes. We have all seen that there have been problems in recent times, but that doesn’t mean we don’t consider it as a big game. Brugge have hosted Aston Villa and Sporting Club in the last two, but here we are at a higher level and we can’t help but wait to experience a beautiful European evening against one of the best in Europe”.
-The last match played between the two teams was twenty years ago, dated 09/14/2005. Will there be more balance on the pitch tonight?
“Well in 2005 Juventus was one of the best teams in Europe, Brugge had already had difficulty qualifying for the groups and then failed to get through. Years and years later there will certainly be more balance, because they are doing an incredible job in the Champions League and for at least four or five years they have always managed to create difficulties for the top clubs at home.
In Italy we are enjoying the performances of Samuel Mbangula, certainly one of the best in Juventus this season. Isn’t there some regret that he didn’t stay in Belgium?
“I don’t know Samuel Mbangula very well, we often see these young boys of 16/17/18 years old leaving for abroad and doing well. Unfortunately we don’t have enough patience to stay here and try. Now, however, he is doing very well at Juventus and is within the national team”.
We thank Tomas Taecke for the courtesy and availability shown during this interview.
