Anderlecht beat Salzburg 2-0. Thursday night, at Parc Astrid. Matchday four of the Europa League. A goal from Marten Winkler in the 90th minute to close the evening.
I read about it on Friday, at the chip shop, ahead of my weekly paper. I’m told there was a crisis. I’m also told it may be over. Two wins in a row. Crises are shorter than they used to be.
I’m not criticising. I’m comparing. In my day, a crisis lasted until spring. People talked about it at the café. They knew it by its first name.
The goalkeeper, Colin Coosemans, answered with a smile: “Maybe, according to the media, we are now the best team in the country.” That is irony. I recognised it. It has become rare among players. He added: “We have to ensure continuity. Just because you win two games doesn’t mean everything is suddenly perfect.” A footballer asking for patience. I read the sentence twice.
Late in the match, at 1-0, he turned away a Salzburg effort with his face. Vitor Bruno told Voetbalkrant, a Flemish football site, that the save represents a lot of what the team showed that night. On that point, nothing has changed since 1980. A goalkeeper who doesn’t back away is still a goalkeeper.
Marcel, two wins, that’s historic. I’m weighing my words.
She weighs a lot of words, Nadine. None of them weighs much.
On Sunday, Anderlecht go to Bruges. I’ll see on Monday whether the crisis is back. Well. It’s the times.
It’s true, we checked: Walfoot.
