“I have already felt a lot of things, I have already done a lot of things in my career, but it was an incredible feeling with the team…” Wednesday evening, in the bowels of the Metropolitano, Simon Mignolet could display a large smile. Thanks to masterful saves, especially at the end of the match when his team was reduced to ten after the expulsion of Sowah, the Club Brugge goalkeeper allowed his team to snatch a draw (0-0) against Atlético de Madrid.
A period is all, and that means a lot. Because it allows the defending champion of Belgium (consecrated five times in seven years) to extricate himself for the first time in his history from the pools of the Champions League. Mignolet sickened the people of Madrid, starting with Antoine Griezmann, now 100% Colchonero after his final transfer from Barça.
The tricolor international tried the header, the half-volley or the lob without ever managing to thrill the nets. ” It’s incredible. I still don’t realize. I even got hit in the head (Editor’s note: transformed into a decisive stop at the very end of the match). I really gave everything for this result, slips the hero of the evening. That’s how this band works: we always give our all. I had to make a lot of saves, but that’s the essential role of the goalkeeper. It is also thanks to the good defensive work that I was able to make these saves. Four clean sheets in a row (Editor’s note: zero goals conceded) and the qualification for the final phase after four days, it’s incredible. A great moment for the club. »
Imperial in recent months, Mignolet could be crowned best player in Belgium at the end of the year. “Simon had a big game and they knew how to defend well, breathes Yannick Carrasco, the Red Devil of Atlético. The credit goes to him and his team if they haven’t conceded a goal yet. »
After four days (out of six), Bruges are already in the round of 16, like Manchester City, Bayern Munich, Naples and Real Madrid. Almost faultless for Carl Hoefkens’ men (three wins, one draw) in a very open and balanced group B (with Porto and Leverkusen).
“It could go either way. I am very happy with the way we were able to carry out this match, smiles the former international defender who has become coach of the richest club in Belgium, currently 3rd in the championship, 8 points from Antwerp. It’s a big step we’ve taken. Today, the Club no longer sees itself as a team that does not belong here. We want to win every game and win the group. »