During this period of fifteen matches, the Union managed only two clean sheets with Alexander Blessin who had to tinker between the brief presence of Leysen before his shoulder injury, the numerous starts of Sykes but also the replacement of Castro-Montes or Vanhoutte in the rear hinge. So much so that we had to bite our fingers, in the Brussels management offices, for not having transferred an additional central defender this winter so as not to add excessive competition.
“We are solid defensively but we concede stupid goals.”
Good statistics
The match against Club Bruges last Sunday gave Blessin a positive feeling about his defense. And the figures show it: over the entire game, Bruges only had an expected goals of 0.86 with eight shots including only two shots on target. Anthony Moris didn't have a single save to make and star striker Thiago finished the match with an expected goals of just 0.01. The defensive trio was also solid in duels, winning 22 out of 24 in the defensive sector. “Bruges created almost no big chances and this is an encouraging factor, explained Blessin after the game. We were solid in our defensive behavior by showing our true colors.”
The return of Mac Allister is no stranger to this defensive solidity. Arriving last summer from the Argentinos Juniors club, the 26-year-old took advantage of Ross Sykes' injury at the very end of preparation to join the team… and never to leave again. Sometimes too rough with his Argentinian style, Mac Allister managed throughout the season to find the right balance between being hard on the attacker without causing too many mistakes. In the end, Alexis Mac Allister's brother received “only” six yellow cards in the championship.
His speed also makes a player like Burgess better, whose speed is not the primary quality. And to top it all off, Kevin Mac Allister is a locker room leader having already worn the captain's armband in the Belgian Cup who does not hesitate to speak before matches or at half-time. “Kevin was very solid against Nusa, analyzed Blessin after the duel against Bruges. It’s all the more remarkable as he was coming back from a long injury.”
But goals conceded
Except that if the defensive aspect of the Union is an element of hope in the ambient slump, also helped by the heavy undermining work of Charles Vanhoutte in the middle, the team still conceded two goals against Bruges . Against Anderlecht, the Unionists also conceded two goals from only five shots on target and a low expected goals of 1.32. The statistics were even more striking against Cercle Bruges with a Bruges expected goals of 1.14 for three goals scored… on four shots on target.
Throughout the playoffs, Anthony Moris only had to make six saves in four matches for as many goals conceded and made three errors which were costly. “This is our main problem, admitted Alex Blessin. We are solid defensively but we concede avoidable goals. We talked about it during the week, we are well aware of that. Against the Club, I saw in the body language of my players that we were absent just after the opening score. It’s human but we need to change this dynamic.”
Preferably starting this Thursday at Antwerp to finally succeed in getting a first clean sheet, and the first points, in these Champions Playoffs.
