Sint-Truiden visit the Lotto Park on Thursday evening. It is the final home match of the Champions’ Play-offs for the Mauves. A crucial encounter in the battle for a European ticket, as coach Jérémy Taravel also knows. “The players are fully aware of the importance of this match for the club and its supporters.” Watch his full press conference on Mauve TV.
With a victory against Sint-Truiden, RSCA would be all but certain of finishing fourth and securing the accompanying European ticket. One week after the lost cup final, Thursday’s game is another important appointment with next season already in mind. “We had to process the disappointment of that final and get everyone focused again,” said Taravel. “The players are fully aware of the importance of this match for the club and its supporters.”
Mentally, losing the cup final was difficult, the coach admitted. “It was obviously a huge disappointment for the team and the supporters. Personally, I felt the same way, but as a professional you have to switch focus quickly. We knew that important matches still remained after the cup final with next season in mind. We discussed it both collectively and individually, and we are ready to fully embrace this match.”
The coach is therefore hoping his side can finish the final home match on a positive note together with the fans. “Without the support of our supporters, it is difficult, especially at home. Their support makes a huge difference.” The Frenchman also understands the frustrations among the fans. “I completely understand them because they have been waiting for a trophy for several years. Both the squad and I were deeply disappointed after losing the cup final. I hope the supporters will back us against STVV because it is an important match for the club.”
Taravel expects a difficult game against STVV. “They will obviously play with freedom after securing a European ticket. They will come to the Lotto Park full of confidence.” RSCA experienced a difficult evening in the reverse fixture in Sint-Truiden. “They are a team with a lot of movement and quality. We will have to be ready and impose our game. We will simply need to play a complete match to win. In recent games we were often performing well, but we failed to score and made a few mistakes. In the Champions’ Play-offs, you pay dearly for that.”
Some players could be facing their final match at the Lotto Park on Thursday evening. “They want to end their time here on a positive note after the lost cup final and finish the season in style by securing a European ticket for next season. I can feel the hunger to give everything for this club until the very last minute.”
The coach will be without an important defensive player against STVV. Moussa Diarra is struggling with a glute injury and will miss Thursday’s match. Mario Stroeykens is still injured, while Mihajlo Cvetković will serve the second game of his suspension. Kick-off is at 20:30 at the Lotto Park.
