A few hours later, on the steps of the Saint-Gilles town hall, the majority shareholder of the club had swapped the costume for the blue and yellow t-shirt created especially for the event. Surrounded by his English friends who had made a huge flag bearing his image, the forty-year-old was enjoying the moment with a beer in hand next to his friend Tony Bloom. “I admit that I cried at the final whistle, he said while Loïc Lapoussin put on a show in front of the supporters gathered on the square. In England, supporters are accustomed to wondering if their team will win the Cup or finish in the top 4, synonymous with qualification for the Champions League. For me, there is no photo: winning a trophy is above everything. Football is about winning titles. It is for these moments of joy that we have worked hard for years. Seeing our fans celebrate this victory gives me an incredible feeling.”
This is my best moment since my arrival.
During the match, Alex Muzio went through several feelings during a rather closed match. It is finally thanks to a goal from Koki Machida, at the very end of the first half, that the Union won its third Belgian Cup, after 1913 and 1914. “I had a good feeling during the first half, Muzio remembered. At the start of the second period, I didn't feel any stress but from the hour mark, Antwerp took control of the match and that put me in a fairly uncomfortable situation even if they didn't create any. big opportunities. I regained my composure at the end of the match because I saw that we were holding on. Personally, it's my best moment since my arrival. The D1B title was already exceptional but there were no supporters because of Covid. The victory against Union Berlin was also incredible but it didn't give us a trophy. There we have a Cup to store in a cupboard.”
A complicated journey
A Cup that was not easy to obtain. After a delicate first match against the amateurs of Meux (2-1), the Union took shelter at the very end of the match against Waasland-Beveren (0-2) before dismissing Anderlecht with ten against eleven (2-1). In the semi-final, the Brussels residents had to make up for a one-goal deficit against Club Bruges to qualify for the final (2-1 then 2-0). “It was clearly not an easy path, said Alex Muzio. One of our most complicated matches was ultimately against Meux who could have ended up in our place this Thursday (smile). I think the feeling is even stronger since we beat three teams playing in the Champions Playoffs. It would have been nothing different if we had knocked out two D1B teams before beating a European Playoff team in the final. At the end of the match, we looked at each other with Philippe Bormans and Chris O'Loughlin (Editor’s note: the CEO and the sports director). We cried together, telling ourselves that we had accomplished something great.”
Going for the title is in the back of my mind.
And it may not be over. Three days before the end of the season, the Union is still in the race to clinch the title of Belgian champion. Before their trip to the Club this Monday, Blessin's men are three points behind Bruges and one point behind Anderlecht. “It's difficult to already plan for the championship, concluded Muzio. Above all, I want to enjoy the present moment. If we become champions, we will not directly think about the Champions League (smile). We have to make the most of it but it’s clear that going for the title is in the back of my mind. It will be complicated but not impossible. I feel the team can still win several games between now and the end of the season.”
