Club Brugge’s European dream came to an end on Wednesday evening. In the semi-final of the Conference League, the Blauw and Zwart finally had to give in to Fiorentina. At the Club, a number of players remained below the desired level during the second leg.
Bruges had to win on their own ground after losing the first leg in Italy 3-2. The start of the return match was nevertheless promising for the Club. Midway through the first half, Hans Vanaken (or Maxim De Cuyper?) made it 1-0.
Bruges tried to defend this tiny lead for quite a while, but were unable to do so. A goal from Lucas Beltran from the penalty spot at the end of the match finally sounded the death knell for the Belgian team. It must be said that Fiorentina had already created a lot of chances before this penalty.
Vetlesen disappoints
At the Club, not everyone was up to par. If the attackers Ferran Jutgla, Igor Thiago and Michal Skoras worked hard, they were not dangerous enough offensively. In defense, young Kyriani Sabbe struggled. But the biggest disappointment is probably Hugo Vetlesen.
The Norwegian started on the bench in the first match, but Raphael Onyedika’s suspension resulted in his return to the starting XI. But Vetlesen was too messy in midfield. It was not for nothing that he was the first player to be replaced by interim coach Nicky Hayen.
Brugge’s worst performing player
The newspaper Het Laatste Nieuws is very harsh on Vetlesen and even gives him a rating of 4 out of 10. “He was not good enough for this level. By far the worst of the midfielders and even of the whole team.”
The Last Hour – Sports is a little more lenient with a rating of 5 out of 10, but here too, she finds that Vetlesen is the worst Bruges player. “He was often too gentle. Or not intelligent enough. Like his unnecessary mistake after an hour of play in an action in which he was not really involved,” declares the Walloon media.
