GREG VANDERIDT: "I'D LOVE TO SEE SOME DRIVE AND A FIRST POSITIVE REACTION FROM MY PLAYERS ON SUNDAY NIGHT"

Greg Vanderidt will be Beerschot's fourth head coach of the season in the dugout on Sunday night, after Peter Maes, Marc Noé and Javier Torrente. The 51 year old coach moved up one step on the ladder after Torrente was sacked last Monday. What exactly are Greg's  ideas and expectations we asked him during a one on one chat. His answers were straightforward, honest and to the point. Judge for yourselves.

How do you consider your promotion to T1: as an ultimate breakthrough or some kind of poisoned gift?

"Certainly not as a poisoned gift but you won't see me with a big smile on my face either. Everybody knows Beerschot are in a desperate and precarious situation and almost everybody already takes for granted we will go down at the end of this season. So there are certainly better moments to step in, but I will try to force a turnaround even in these difficult circumstances."

What assignments did the Board of Directors give you at the beginning of this week?

"Put Beerschot back on track, create new enthusiasm, make the team competitive again, win matches, don't fall behind even further and stay in touch with Seraing. To achieve that I'll have to get the organisation back in the team, start from scratch, have three different principles when we have possession and lose the ball and concentrate on our own game. Furthermore we have to make sure we don't change our team too often.. but this will already prove difficult on Sunday against KV Kortrijk as we have a handful players who tested positive from covid. We have to get rid of the doubt, chaos and performance anxiety that cost us too many points the last couple of months. I want to see a team that is combative and shows winning mentality. Play that kind of football with which our supporter can identify themselves."

Were you surprised with the sacking of Javier Torrente?

"It is not to me to comment on that. It was the decision of the Board and everyone has to accept that. I had a good relatioinship with Lucho and learned a lot from him. He is an adept of Marcelo Bielsa. His South American approach and some of his exercises during training sessions were eye openers. But sometimes the communication was difficult and time consuming. With the players I mean, not with me. As I am fluent in Spanish we had a special understanding. Respect was mutual. For that reason the farewell on Tuesday was very emotional. Lucho is a warm person, selfassured and had convincing ideas about football. Unfortunately it didn't work out as it should have done at Beerschot."

So what now Greg?

"Of course our focus is now for 100% on Sunday night's home game against KV Kortrijk. I'd love to see some drive and a first positive reaction from my players. We will start the game as a close-knit team and try to execute our battle plan to perfection. Concentration is the main point so we can limit the misunderstandings in defense. In our tactical plan we will of course take the stronger and weaker points of our opponents in consideration but in the end we will have to start from our own quality and possibilities. I hope we can put that through the whole 90 minutes and don't fall flat in between.  On top of that the players have to show they are proud of Beerschot and the purple and white colours. Especially in these difficult times. They have to win back the supporters' trust and respect."

How important is football in your life?

"Next to my family life it is the most important asset. I am ever so lucky my wife supports me in fulfilling my dream to become a professional football coach. She understands the sacrifices I have to make in that respect. Football is always on my mind. I follow my son's career; he is a goalkeeeper at Beerschot's Youth Academy. And at the same time to keep up with the new trends in football as a whole and training approaches in particular. I am a big fan of Real Madrid, follow all of their games on tv, via stream or - as often as I can - live at the Bernabeu. Do I look up to a particular coach or manager? I enjoy Guardiola's combination football, Mourinho's cunning approach, and the "simplicity and iron fist" manner how Ancelotti transmits his ideas towards his players. In Belgium I am a big fan of Marc Brys' tactical views."   

Good luck Greg!

By Danny Geerts