“Of course it is fantastic that we are active on 3 fronts.” Gent will proudly start the second part of its European adventure against PAOK Saloniki. Although the busy calendar also gives the club headaches. “I don’t see us winning the Conference League, that creates mixed feelings,” says Michel Louwagie.
Michel Louwagie goes to Greece with mixed feelings. The big man at Ghent is proud that his team is still active on 3 fronts, but also sees a disadvantage in this: a packed agenda.
“I don’t see us winning the Conference League either,” said the manager. “We are in the cup final. You should not play it, but win it. And we also compete for a play-off ticket in the competition.”
So Ghent is dancing on a tightrope. Will the team take the Cup card in its own country, or will it be full for a European adventure and a boost for the Belgian coefficient?
“We mainly want to win a prize: the Cup or the Conference League. But if you go to the semi-finals in the Conference League and you lose the cup final, nobody will know in 10 years that you have come this far.”
I think it’s great living to continue in Europe, but it’s going to be a lot.
Ghent has been able to present a solid report since the title in 2015, according to Louwagie. “For the past 7 years we have always played European and we have always made it to the top 5 in the competition. Of course people look at the prizes…”
And since the title in 2015, the Buffalos have not won a prize. High time to change that.
“Of course it’s fantastic that we are active on 3 fronts. The players will also give it their all to win every game. I think it’s great to continue in Europe, but it’s going to be a lot.”
“I remember the Club Brugge campaign where they play the quarter-finals of the Europa League, win the Cup, but fall short against us in the championship”, Louwagie shares. “That prompts us to think about our approach.”
Ghent has a clear goal this season: to cash in on good form.
Pleats smoothed out with fans?
The sky over the Ghelamco Arena has completely cleared up. After weeks of supporters protest and lesser sporting performances, Ivan De Witte and Michel Louwagie seem to have the club back on track.
A supporters’ council has been established and the chairman also sat together with the Ghent Ultras. “That went well,” says Louwagie. “So we hope that everyone will join the team again.”
A team that also runs smoothly thanks to outstanding players Depoitre and Kums. “Laurent Depoitre was an indispensable part of the base in his first year. Last season he struggled with a foot injury. Now he is back on the level.”
Louwagie also admires Sven Sven Kums. “Sven gets better with the years and needs a lot of games. For him it might be lucky that there are so many games on the agenda.”
