Coming weekend the battle will break loose again in the Jupiler Pro League. After a trainer carousel, many teams are faced with an exciting first day of school. Who can break the hegemony of Club Brugge? An overview of the biggest title candidates at the start of the competition. Today under the microscope: KAA Gent.
KAA Gent was once a dovecote for trainers and players, now it seems like a familiar nest. There was some doubt for a while, but Hein Vanhaezebrouck remained loyal to the Buffalos after the won cup final.
The fixed values also remain on the field. In the back, Okumu and Ngadeau are still there, in midfield De Sart, Vadis and Kums. Only: the three struggled in the preparation with injuries. Especially Kums (34) and Vadis (33) are not getting any younger.
The same applies to Laurent Depoitre, but with Hugo Cuypers there was a younger alternative. The striker, who came over from KV Mechelen, must provide his injury-prone colleague with some more breathing room.
Still present in the attacking compartment: Tarik Tissoudali. The Moroccan was heading for a departure from the Ghelamco Arena, but it was remarkably quiet around his name.
The Ebony shoe put on the Ghent shirt for the Supercup against Club Brugge without murmuring. Whether that will still be the case in September remains to be seen. Negotiations about a contract extension are already difficult.
Will the late departure of magician Tissoudali still cause a crack in the familiar Ghent foundations?
Biggest reinforcement: Hugo Cuypers
Work ethic and grinta. The main reasons why Hein Vanhaezebrouck gave in to Hugo Cuypers.
Cuypers turned out to be a revelation at KV Mechelen last season, with 13 goals and 10 assists. The striker must give AA Gent more offensive options, a sore point in the past season.
The only question that remains: with whom will the Liege player form a striker duo next season?
| Incoming | ||
|---|---|---|
| Hugo Cuypers | KV Mechelen | |
| Jordan Torunarigha | Hertha Berlin | |
| Malick Fofana | Young Ghent | |
| Anderson Niangbo** | Storm Graz | |
| Jordan Botaka ** | Fortuna Sittard | |
| ** back from rent | ||
| Outgoing | ||
| Sinan Bolat | Westerlo | |
| Vakoun Bayo | Charleroi | |
| Ibrahima Cisse | Schalke 04 | |
| Christopher Opéri | Free transfer | |
| Osman Bukari | Red Star Belgrade | |
| Giorgi Tsjakvetadze | Slavic Bratislava | |
| Adewale Oladoye | AS Trencin | |
| Gianni Bruno | STVV | |
| Yonas Malede | KV Mechelen | |
| Roman Bezoes | without club | |
| Chinonso Emeka | without club | |
Results in preparation
- Dikkelvenn – Gent: 0-6
- Westerlo – Ghent: 6-2
- Hadjuk Split – Gent: 0-3
- Gent – Aris Thessaloniki: 0-1
- Gent – Midthylland: 2-1
Quote from the preparation
“I’m not concerned with what’s going on,” Tarik Tissoudali told HLN after the Supercup against Club Brugge. There is no clarity about his future at Ghent at the start of the competition.
“I focus on Ghent. We’ll see what happens. You never know what happens in football. But based on the club’s last words, it’s not possible, no. It doesn’t look like a new contract is coming…”
It doesn’t look like a new contract is coming…
Competition start
- 22/07: Standard – Gent
- 30/07: Ghent – STVV
- 07/08: Ghent – Westerlo
- 12/08: KV Oostende – Ghent
