KAA Gent has been labelled a 'very solid team' by opposing manager Lars Friis ahead of Sunday's Jupiler Pro League clash. The Cercle Brugge coach expressed his respect for the Ghent side in an interview on his club's website, as reported by VoetbalNieuws.be.
Gent have started the season strongly and currently sit third in the league with twelve points from four matches. They have scored seven goals and conceded only two, resulting in a +5 goal difference. This solid defensive foundation is one reason for Friis's warning. Rik De Mil's team aims to maintain this form and defend their position at the top in the away match against Cercle Brugge on September 6th.
What did Lars Friis say about Gent?
Lars Friis, the head coach of Cercle Brugge, was clear in his analysis. "Gent is een heel solide team," he said. He added, "Ze maken het zichzelf niet te moeilijk en spelen volgens hun eigen sterktes." These statements show the respect the opponent has for the organisation and mentality of De Mil's squad.
Friis's words don't come out of nowhere. Gent recently secured an important victory against reigning champions Club Brugge in a rescheduled match. That win underlined the growth the team has undergone after a disappointing previous season. The sporting leadership took measures back then by removing some underperforming players and bringing in several targeted reinforcements, without completely overhauling the entire core.
What is Gent's situation after the season start?
The numbers speak for themselves. With four wins from four matches and a perfect recent form (WWWW), Gent have made one of the best starts to the competition. They currently share the top spot, though their third place in the official standings is confirmed. The team also qualified for the Conference League League Phase after three qualifying rounds, which has further boosted confidence.
Player Christian Burgess expressed his confidence ahead of the trip to Bruges. That mentality is essential, especially as the squad is dealing with some absentees. According to the current injuries list, Hyllarion Goore and Matisse Samoise are currently unavailable. Nevertheless, the squad has sufficient depth to cope with this setback.
What is Rik De Mil's approach?
Head coach Rik De Mil reportedly had input in the transfer policy this past summer. His vision was clear: retain the core where possible, but intervene where necessary. The result is a balanced squad that knows its strengths and plays to them consistently. The victory over Club Brugge was a direct result of this approach.
De Mil will now prepare his team for the challenge at Cercle Brugge, a team currently in thirteenth place. All information on the upcoming schedule can be found on the fixtures page. The focus is entirely on maintaining momentum and collecting another three points.
What does this mean for the match against Cercle?
Friis's warning sets the stage for an interesting tactical battle. Cercle will try to disrupt the solid Gent side, while Gent will want to build on their strengths. The away match on September 6th is the next test in a busy schedule.
For Gent, the task is to maintain high defensive discipline and convert the chances they create. This season's statistics, visible on stats, show they have been excellent at doing just that so far. The match against Cercle Brugge offers a chance to further consolidate or even improve their third-place position in the table. The team travels to Bruges aiming to extend their perfect season start of four wins from four matches.
