PIERRE BOURDIN: "FUN, CONFIDENCE AND BELIEF IN OUR OWN ABILITIES ARE BACK AT BEERSCHOT"

Jupiler League football again this weekend after the international break with Beerschot facing KRC Genk. Sunday night at 9 pm at the Olympic Stadium. We asked defender Pierre Bourdin whether "the new Beerschot has arrived" after beating Francs Borains in the FA Cup, a deserved 3-0 win over Seraing and a nice 1-1 draw in and against Kortrijk.

"It looks as if we are crawling our way back in the table. Our football is remarkably better compared to the first few months of the season. And on top of that the atmosphere in the dressing room is great again. The intensity on the training pitch is much higher these days, we enjoy our football, we laugh more. We have found a perfect balance between hard work and pleasure. As it should be."

"Our new coach Javier Torrente and his staff have a positive influence in all that. We are a close knitted group again, just like last season under the guidance of Hernan Losada and Will Still. The tactical agreements and the assignments are loud and clear, everyone knows what to do and not to do, the communication is top notch. It clicks between mister Torrente and the players; the logical consequence being better football, better results. We stand behind his vision, his tactical concept. The collaboration with his assstents Greg Vanderidt and Frank Magerman works wonders too. The negative thoughts from the beginning of the season, the many doubts and performance anxiety have been replaced by confidence, guts, drive and self belief."

You had a difficult start of the season in July and August...

'Very true. It has been a difficult couple of months, an emotional rollercoaster so to say. It all started well with our wedding in the summer but weeks after that I was hit by a big personal drama. It took me quite a bit of time to come to terms with and assimilate it. I succeeded in the end, learned from it and gained more maturity. I worked pretty hard to come back and reclaim my place in the first team, which I did in the end. At the moment I feel fine, liberated and full of confidence. Ready for the battle to keep Beerschot up in Division 1A. And believe me, we will succeed." 

"I like my position in the team as left wing defender. I get positive energy from the fans' encouragement when I play in front of our die hard-supporters in "Section I". They push me forward. Okay, their ciritcism may be a bit hard sometimes. But I've got no problem with that as they are always fair. My favourite position? As a left back in a three men defense, like last season when Hernan and Will were our coaches, as it suits my physical abilities. But as you know I also played as right back, and against KV Oostende even as a left midfielder. And if necessary - just imagine when all our goalkeepers would be out injured or suspended - I will go in goal too. Thats my philosphy: perform under all circumstances, in any position."

On Sunday KRC Genk come to town. It would be nice if we could stretch our successful run from the last couple of weeks a bit further.

"That's our aim. As defenders we expect a busy night as in my opinion Genk have the best forward line in Belgium with Onuachu, Ito and Bongonda.  But we shouldn't look to much up to them, play our own football, start from our own forte. We have to take advantage from Rapha Holzhauser's brilliance. His corners, free kicks, passes and crosses are always inch perfect. He is our trump card, a unique goal provider. We have been practising on set piece situations on training. "

"Last season we beat KRC Genk on both occasions: 5-2 at home, with me scoring one of the goals. And 1-2 in Genk when Jan Van den Bergh netted a world class goal from 30 yards out. The Goal of the Season that was. What I expect from Sunday's game? We will be put under pressure but I am sure we'll create a couple of good scoring opportunities ourselves. Luckily for us both Caicedo and Vaca returned from interntational duty in South America injury free. Which is a big bonus for our midfield."

Come on Pierre, give us a prediction...

"Beerschot to win 2-1"

With goals from...

"One from Rapha Holzhauser for sure."

And Pierre Bourdin scoring the other one. The winning goal?

"I wouldn't say no to that."

By Danny Geerts