On Sunday, Sporting travels to Mechelen for an important clash in the battle for the final tickets to the Champions’ Play-offs. With two matchdays remaining, both the Mauves and Malinwa are still not guaranteed a place in the top six. However, the press conference ahead of the match was dominated by another news item: Taravel will remain in charge of RSC Anderlecht until the end of the season. “It’s a huge honour, but above all I see it as a great opportunity,” said the head coach. Watch his full press conference on Mauve TV.
On Friday afternoon, RSCA announced that Jérémy Taravel will stay on the bench until the end of the season. “I’m proud to now also officially be the head coach of RSC Anderlecht,” the Frenchman said at the start of his press conference a few moments after the announcement. “I would like to thank the club for this opportunity and the trust they are placing in me. I see it as a great chance and I’m fully focused on the upcoming matches.”
Taravel will now follow his Pro License course in Latvia, but he will not have to miss any important play-off matches. “Many of the lessons will take place online and the instructors know the role I have here at RSC Anderlecht. They are also open to dialogue to find a solution so that it has as little impact on the team as possible.”
With Andreas Patz, the coach will also welcome a new assistant. “An interesting profile,” Taravel said about the German. “We know each other from our time at Cercle, which will make his integration easier, and we have always stayed in contact. He is someone with experience, a calm person who can look at this group of players with a fresh perspective and see which steps we can still take.” With Patz joining, Taravel gains another trusted figure in his staff alongside Naïm Aarab and Arnaud Djoum. “His ambitions immediately match those of the club. He will help us bring the team back to where it belongs.”
The coach mainly hopes to continue building on the momentum. Since the Frenchman took charge of the first team, the Mauves has not lost a single match. “It’s logical that people talk about a new dynamic within the team given the results. That dynamic comes from the energy and mentality we bring, as well as the intensity with which we play.” Against Club Brugge (2-2), the substitutes played an important role. “We have a united group, everyone works for each other. You could also see that with Killian Sardella and Lucas Hey, who made an important defensive action at the end of the match. That way everyone stays involved,” said the coach.
Taravel will not yet be able to count on Marco Kana against KV Mechelen. “He’s close to returning to the squad, but he won’t be there on Sunday yet. Next week he will be able to train the entire week and will probably be part of the squad against Cercle Brugge.” In attack, the coach is also missing a player. “Danylo Sikan is struggling with his adductors. We want to get him ready for the play-offs.”
Kick-off Achter De Kazerne on Sunday at 6:30 PM.