After an early defeat against Genk then an outing in the press which caused a lot of talk, the 50-year-old German suffered a second defeat against Cercle before seeing his team beaten for the first time since his return to D1A by Anderlecht. “Those outside the group say it's a crisis, says Blessin. It's always special to lose three times in a row but it's not all negative from within. We just have to succeed in putting our DNA at the center of our matches.”
Far from being disturbed by the relocation of the press conference to the tennis club bar of the training center, due to a birthday in the room usually welcoming journalists, Blessin did not hide. Confident, he took his responsibilities by raising current hot topics, he who was the only Unionist authorized to speak during an unusual week.
A big discussion within the group
After training the day after the defeat against Anderlecht, the players were given a day off on Tuesday. They then met again the next day and dared to say things to each other, eye to eye to release all their frustrations. “We've talked a lot but it's not something new, Blessin said. The players talked to each other and I was also able to chat with some of them. When you lose, you have to change something. We are not happy with the situation but we are trying to find the solution to our problems. The general feeling is always bad when you have a series of defeats but I saw good intensity in training.”
When you lose, you have to change something.
Blessin also looked at himself in the mirror. The unionist T1 knows that it has failed at certain times in recent weeks. His body language was also called into question, he who appeared at times resigned along the touchline or after the defeat at Lotto Park but also sometimes angry. “The press says that I shouted loudly after the match against Anderlecht but it is not the first time that this has happened, he smiled a few meters from the Friday athletes finishing their beers. I always have the habit of taking the whole group to the middle of the pitch to talk after matches. In any case, I am the first to think about my decisions, whether after a victory or after a defeat. I have open discussions with other staff members about what we can improve. When there is a defeat, I take it personally and the victories are thanks to the players. I totally accept this logic.”
An adversary with full confidence
Everything definitely moves very quickly in football. A month and a half ago, the Union eliminated Club Bruges to qualify for the final of the Belgian Cup and were… 20 points ahead of Ronny Deila's team. The Danish coach has meanwhile been fired, Bruges are undefeated in the playoffs and have just qualified brilliantly for the semi-finals of the Conference League. In the event of a victory on Sunday, they would even be one point ahead of the Union… “The team is clearly full of confidenceanalyzes Blessin who was in front of his television this Thursday evening to watch the qualification of Nicky Hayen's men. I am happy with their victory because it is good for the coefficient of Belgian football. Afterwards, I think that PAOK was not on its best day (wink). Since the change of coach, there is a lot more stability in the team. Bruges are always full of confidence, aggression and intensity when they play against us. But we've already beaten them twice this season (Editor’s note: in the league and in the Cup, twice at home) so we know how to play against them.”
Amoura losing momentum
Club Brugge is a team that does well for Mohammed Amoura. In the championship, he scored a magnificent bicycle kick in the first leg (2-1) before giving a perfect assist to Nilsson in the second leg (1-1). In the Cup, it was he who qualified the Union thanks to a goal from the surface (2-0). But that was before his decline in recent weeks. Very affected psychologically by the early elimination of Algeria at the Can, Amoura returned with his efficiency (4 goals and 3 assists in the 8 matches following his return) before experiencing a low point. Not helped by the mask he has worn since his collision with a referee during the last international break, the 23-year-old failed to make the difference in these playoffs. “I always said he needed time, tempers Blessin. He experienced a big change when he moved from Lugano to the Union: from a substitute, he became a starter with enormous media attention around him given his performances. It's totally different to have to make the difference as a luxury joker or as a long-term starter. He was also not helped by injuries to his shoulder and then his face. His mission now is to work hard to get back to his level.”
And for that, the Union coach took the time to speak to his player this week. Just to stay focused on the end of the season while some are already sending him to the Premier League for sums between €15 and €20 million.“We watched videos of his performances to see where he could improve. He has to move a lot more because his movements are now more easily controlled. He is clearly not happy with his performance and he makes it known because he is a fairly emotional person. (smile). But I like that, he knows he is in a learning process. I hope he understood our entire conversation.”
Answer this Sunday for what the most pessimists call the last chance match in the title race. With the only objective for the Union being victory which would give Blessin emotions far removed from those experienced after his triumph in football-tennis this Friday…
