Anderlecht not only play against Vitesse Arnhem for the European groups and associated money, it also has to answer many Dutch analysts. Our northern neighbors used to call Anderlecht an institution, now it is “a mess” or “nice packaging, little content”. Kompany and co. show that their club can become great again. “We have already taken many steps structurally.”
During the preparation, Anderlecht played a gala match against Ajax in the Lotto Park. The Ajax players entered without internationals such as Klaassen, Gravenberch and Blind, and without acquisition Steven Berghuis. Still, RSCA went down 0-2 without a chance. The Purple & White had previously not won with a mix of A and B players in exhibition matches against AZ (1-1) and Utrecht (1-1). In De Telegraaf , football chief Valentijn Driessen wrote after the Ajax match. “There is really nothing left of this Anderlecht. They were outplayed by an Ajax youth team.”
Anderlecht’s image in the Netherlands has plummeted in recent years. In their eyes, the Purple & White used to be a home for top Dutch players: Rensenbrink, Haan, Mulder, Bosman… They have recently seen RSCA as a top club in decline. When sports manager Peter Verbeke snatched the talent Joshua Zirkzee from Bayern despite Feyenoord’s interest, analyst Kenneth Perez announced: “And then such a boy goes to the mess of Anderlecht.”
Vincent Kompany smiled at all that negativity. “I didn’t expect the Dutch to throw flowers after a club like Anderlecht faltered. We often talk about them playfully. Especially when our national team overtook the Orange.”
Like Man City
The laughing matter in Holland started three years ago, when Anderlecht was taken over by Marc Coucke and then remained deprived of European football. There was also a lot of criticism in Belgium, but RSCA was really poked fun at across the border. Especially when it didn’t work immediately after the arrival of Kompany and the club got off to a disastrous start. Analyst René van der Gijp joked: “At Anderlecht they thought they had invented gunpowder. Kompany shouted that they would play football like Man City, building up from the back. Well, they do. They didn’t come out of their own box yet. How awful is all that.”
Since then, that picture has hardly changed in the Netherlands because the inhabitants of Brussels finished eighth and fourth. Anderlecht has evolved a lot in the meantime, but that is not getting through there. When we spoke to Kenneth Perez this week after his criticism, it turned out that he had shouted especially loudly. Aad de Mos, among others, cultivates Anderlecht’s bad image across the border. “It’s nice packaging, but not great content,” said De Mos this week. He went the extra mile by stating that Kompany is not being contradicted “because he is a co-owner of the club”. Something that is patently untrue. The club’s followers can’t wait for the next game to use the online betting platform.
Respected club
That’s why it’s time to shut up the Dutch. Vitesse is not Ajax and the Purple & White brought together quite a competitive team despite a limited budget. Zirkzee was an important final puzzle piece. Toon De Mos and co. agree on the field that Anderlecht are still Anderlecht. Not as grand as it used to be, but still a respected club. An extra year without European groups would be another missed opportunity for the youngsters. “I want to go to Europe,” Kompany continued. “That is a priority. What those analysts don’t see from a distance is that major steps have been taken behind the scenes in the past 12 to 24 months. Our situation was almost hopeless, but we avoided the very worst scenario.”
Kompany is willing to admit to the (Dutch) observers that Anderlecht were on the edge of the abyss. Only they now have to be made aware that the turnaround has started. Both sportingly and financially. The budget is more livable. “We could go the way of Glasgow Rangers (the Scottish top club was declared bankrupt in 2012, ed.) , and how long did it take AC Milan to get back? Arsenal are still looking. Those clubs were supposedly too big to fail . Well, we have structurally avoided that. Anderlecht will stand on their own two feet again and not depend on a coach like Kompany or certain players.”
No underestimation
The renaissance can now be reinforced. Yet Kompany does not underestimate Vitesse. “It remains a difficult opponent. They have a German trainer who comes from the Red Bull school. Then you know that they never play with restraint, but with a lot of pressing and aggressiveness. It is a modern club.”
Hopefully the Dutch analysts will soon be with their mouths full of teeth.