After having trained for six days in the Austrian Neustift, RSCA return to Brussels today - Sunday 12th July 2009. In addition to train, Anderlecht also played two friendly games during this training session: against Zenit Saint Petersburg and Slovan Liberec. Tom De Sutter scored during those games and also scored during training. RSCA.be had a short conversation with him before the final practice match on his opinion on the training session, his shape and his prospects for the future.

“The training session went smoothly”, said De Sutter. It has been a good preparation, everything fitted together nicely. It was also fun for me to take part in an entire training session with Anderlecht for the first time. I do not see a lot of difference between this training session and the ones I took part in with Cercle. Every team just wants to lay foundations with respect to next season.”

In the past, the training session also involved teambuilding, which was not the case this year. “I would not have minded if those had been part of it”, said the striker, “but not necessarily. I think that it is just important to train a lot now. We can always do some teambuilding later on during the season, but I do not know whether it is necessary for the group atmosphere. Everything is okay as far as that is concerned”, the sympathetic Belgian smiled.

“What matters now is that we prepare ourselves physically and, like this, reach our best level possible. During the first weeks of the new season, we already faced some smaller opponents, which is nice to get started, but I am glad that we will take on some stronger adversaries now. Zenit was our first ‘real’ test, because that team allows you to play, but also play themselves. I think that we did well as a team and that we created quite a few scoring opportunities. That way, we can raise our level, with a view of the important CL preliminaries at the end of July and at the beginning of August.”

Dick Advocaat, the Red Devils’ new coach, was also present. “That was not really important for me. I do not think that he is already fully engaged with our national team. He will probably want to see some more players before he decides who to select. Advocaat is still Zenit Saint Petersburg’s coach right now and that is probably what matters most to him now.”

So, Tom De Sutter’s preparation has been fine up until now, but he did miss one training because of a mildly strained tibia membrane this week. “Nothing to worry about. It is just something that troubles me sometimes, because of the hard fields in Belgium. I was struggling with it again, so I just did some different training, conditionally and physically, like cycling. It is certainly not a problem, as I only missed one field training and am training 100% now.”

Meanwhile, the former Cercle player has played for Anderlecht for six months, which allows us to draw up the balance sheet. “I certainly experienced some nice things this season, but, of course, disillusionment predominates. I scored a few goals and I was very happy about it, but we finished the season without a prize in May. That hurt, but we have to stop thinking about that. We have to turn the page and completely focus on the new season.”

The most important match is already to take place in the near future: within a fortnight, RSC Anderlecht will play the Champions League third preliminary. “Last year, RSCA lost to a lesser opponent. We have to do better this season, but it will not be easy. The adversaries are strong, although we always have to assume that we can win. If you do not start a match with the right attitude, you will definitely limit your chances to win.”

After that first preliminary, RSCA also have to start the reformed Jupiler Pro League. Not everybody is happy with this adaptation, though. “I do not really know what to think. Just before the final round, the points that you have gained up until then will be divided in two and I assume that, therefore, the intensity of the first matches will be lower. In addition, the players’ shape at the end of the season will probably be of crucial importance, if you ask me.”

De Sutter leaves aside whether new players are needed. “I think that we have a very good team, which we proved last season. We gained 77 points, a nice result. Obviously, there is always room for good players.”

Back-up or not, Tom De Sutter’s personal goals for the season 2009-2010 remain the same. “I want to play the Champions League and win RSCA’s 30th championship title. Moreover, I - of course - want to do everything within my power to be in the best shape I can possibly be. When I look at my career up until now, I think I am allowed to be satisfied. If anyone had told me three years ago that I was going to play for Anderlecht, I would have had a good laugh about it. Now that I have made it this far, I would like to stay here for a few more years.”