Tactically… Bruges won 1-2 at PSV in the Champions League. I read Ivan Leko’s comments in HLN in the prefab dressing room, folder open on my knees, while the delegate (our club volunteer, keeper of the paperwork) hunted for the bibs. One line stopped me: “I will never park the bus.”
Neither will I. For a simple reason: we haven’t got one. We go in four cars, and my left back’s Clio doesn’t park in front of a goal, I tried it at the warm-up. But I share the intention. Leko says he likes taking risks and playing to win. That’s exactly what I say on Tuesday, when we’ve got eleven, that is.
He also explained what made the difference: his side scored one more goal. I underlined that in biro. Twenty years I’ve been trying to get that message across in my team talk, and a Champions League manager puts it in one sentence. He adds that Bruges had a bit of luck, but made it themselves. Here, luck is pitch 2: we know which way it leans, we pick ends at the toss.
On Carlos Forbs, Leko says he could have done better several times in the first half, that he was disappointed at half-time, but that the player found his energy again. Half-time is where it all gets decided. At half-time I’ve got a mug of coffee and a wet towel, but the energy comes back too, especially when the clubhouse bar opens.
Finally he talks about what Bruges achieve on their budget, which he finds “incredible”. Ours is one ball and a set of bibs, paid for by the chips. I’m not comparing figures, I’m comparing philosophy.
Freddy, your bus is the delegate’s van, and it’s been parked on the pavement since 2019.
Sunday at three, 4-4-2, no bus, high block. On a slope, but high.
It’s true, we checked: HLN.
