Anderlecht lost 4-0 at Gent on Sunday, with three of the goals in the second half. A week earlier, the team had been knocked out of the Belgian Cup at Beerschot. I wrote it all down on the 7:32 train, tab “Anderlecht”, sub-tab “why”.
The captain, Colin Coosemans, said he understood the supporters’ frustration 200 percent. Silly question, but where are the other hundred?
I checked. In maths, a hundred per cent is everything. Beyond that, you understand more than everything. I asked Freddy, who said it was normal, that in football you always give more than a hundred. I asked where you find that surplus. He answered “in the collective”. I wrote “collective” with a question mark.
Coosemans also said something else: “Since Vincent Kompany left, Vitor Bruno is perhaps the best coach we’ve had here.” He began by saying he had hoped never to have to say it. I think that’s kind. But I circled “perhaps”. So we understand the supporters 200 percent, and the coach perhaps. I’m digging.
Then he said the last twenty minutes were solely down to the players, and that they must “look themselves in the mirror”. In basketball, we watch the video. That exists in football too, I asked. So why the mirror? I’m told it’s always been like this, fine, but what does that mean?
At least a mirror doesn’t do slow-motion replays.
Last note: according to Coosemans, there had never been a mentality problem, but the team no longer formed the unity that defines it. Anderlecht are nine points behind Gent. That, at least, is a normal number, with nothing extra in it.
Anyway, I still have a lot to learn.
It’s true, we checked: Walfoot.
