Tristan Degreef (Anderlecht) recounts his crazy evening against Porto: “There is no peno but I quickly made the click”

“It’s a chance contactsays David Hubert. There is contact but I don’t know if we should whistle it. This happens and I don’t think it had any impact on Tristan’s match. And the reaction from the whole group was perfect.” And the player confirms his coach’s opinion: “For me, there is no penalty. The Porto player’s head is very low and I don’t touch him on purpose, either.”

After such a phase, two solutions exist: collapse or raise your head. Degreef chose the best option: “I have to click to move on. And that’s what I did.”

His teammates were impressed with his reaction. But surprised? No way. “I didn’t even know he caused the penalty, confie Jan-Carlo Simic. And then it happens. Given Tristan’s qualities, I never doubted him. And I’m proud of what he did and his goal. And we almost forget that Nunzio Engwanda saved us at the end. Many young people showed their qualities against Porto.”

Degreef concluded his match with a calm goal. When he received the ball from Mats Rits on his left foot, he did not hesitate. “Suddenly, it’s a dream that comes true. It’s my first goal as a professional player (Editor’s note: he had already scored in D2 with the Futures). And to do it in a match like this…”

He took a little time before celebrating by making a punched jump into the sky. When he finally came to his senses by returning to his part of the field, he raised a finger towards the stand. “I pointed at my family: mom, dad, brother, my girlfriend. It was especially a goal for them.”

On the bench, David Hubert was rubbing his hands. Another successful bet for the young coach. “I never look at age but only at the qualities, the profile and what the player shows me in training. If Tristan has played and has already started in other European matches, it is because that I was convinced that he could have an impact. He plays because he deserves to.”

Anderlecht under the magnifying glass: Degreef attractive, Rits signs one of his best matches, Coosemans repairs his little mistake

The question then arises of its limits. He is growing day by day and could soon become an important part of the A core. “Tristan is a player with great potential. His room for improvement is still greatsays Hubert. He can still evolve physically and in his choices. It is not yet a completely finished product. It’s our job to help it develop and exploit its potential. Let’s not forget that he was not always a starter when he was with the U18s. Everyone needs a different time to break through.”

For David Hubert, seeing the young Louvaniste score his first goal is a bit of coming full circle. The coach was still his teammate 18 months ago at the RSCA Futures. “I prefer to be his coach than his teammate, he smiled. Because he wasn’t as good back then.”