First leg: 0-0 and a missed opportunity
Gent and Hibs ended the first leg in Belgium with a 0-0 draw. The match was generally even, but Gent had much ball possession. Hibs keeper Owen Elding’s penalty shot was missed, preventing Gent from scoring. The game was marked by a lack of decisive actions, especially in attack.
Benes’ role and De Mil’s message
Attacking midfielder Laszlo Benes, 28, has been with Gent since the start of the season. He joined from Union Berlin and has played six matches so far, but he has never stayed on the field beyond the 67th minute. In the first leg he was substituted after 67 minutes. Gent coach Rik De Mil addressed him this week and said he expects more from himself. De Mil said: "We expect more from him, but he also expects more from himself. It is up to us to support him and teach him exactly what we expect."
The need for more quality
De Mil stressed that Gent needs more quality to meet its big ambitions. He mentioned the possibility of transfer moves and the need to create more chances. "When we push a team back into their own half, we need to create more chances," he said. "We don’t just want possession; we also need the quality to score."
Future reinforcements
The club is also considering young talents such as Josue Vergara (19), Ibrahima Cissé (18) and El Hadji Seck (18). De Mil said these players have a lot of potential, but the club is not satisfied with modest goals. He suggested that further strengthening is necessary to achieve the ambitions.
