2023-10-30 09:06:00
The scoreboard already showed 0-2 for Cercle on Saturday in Mechelen, when the public cynically applauded a long clearance from goalkeeper Gaetan Coucke. The man targeted was called Steven Defour. Defour wants his team to build the game from its small rectangle, “à la Guardiola”. Even following a record of 1 point out of 18, which caused Mechelen to plummet to 14th place in the standings. Given that three teams can go down this season, there is panic on board.
It’s been a year and two weeks since Defour was named Mechelen’s T1, replacing Dutchman Danny Buijs, who was a total failure. The former Red Devil had everything to succeed: he had enormous experience at the highest levels as a player, he always had above-average tactical sense, his passion is unrivaled and above all: he is in love with FC Malinois .
When Defour’s dad died in October 2018, Steven said to himself that the greatest gift he might give him was to return to FC Malinois, the club where it all started for them. Steven initially tried to bring something to KV as a player, but his body was worn out. He only played the full 90 minutes of an entire match twice. In his other 17 matches, he was substituted or came on. It was therefore a gift from heaven for him to then be able to coach the club of his heart.
At Burnley, Defour had a stiff neck seeing the balls go over his head. He said to himself: that, never when I’m T1.
His debut was wonderful: 2-0 once morest that other club he loved so much, Standard. Next Sunday, Defour travels to Sclessin for the match which might decide its future as T1. At least, if the leaders didn’t see it before. Before Mechelen – Cercle, management said they were 100% behind Defour. But in football it means nothing at all. When there is panic on board, we forget the love of the coat of arms. Vincent Kompany can attest to this. Despite all his merits, he was left out of Anderlecht.
Defour and Kompany have a lot in common. They had to stop playing football too early (Defour at 32, Kompany at 34) because of a worn body, they quickly became T1 of their childhood club and they installed an attractive but not always effective style of play. . Criticized when the results did not follow, they remained faithful to their principles. It cost Kompany his head at Anderlecht and it might cost Defour that of Mechelen. Both stubborn, they would rather die with their principles than start throwing long balls.
However, Steven learned how to play once morest relegation with… Burnley. A midfielder in Sean Dyche’s team, he had a stiff neck following each match from seeing the balls go over his head. He told himself that the day he was a coach, he would never make his team play like that. Even when he finds himself at the bottom of the rankings. So far, he’s keeping his word. To the great dismay of (some) of the supporters who are fed up with seeing their goalkeeper Coucke give risky little passes in his own rectangle.
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#Yves #Taildemans #column #Threatened #Defour #stubborn #Kompany
