union Saint-Gilloise Rides Home Advantage, Fan Support into Cercle Bruges Clash
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A remarkable atmosphere at Stade Marien is fueling Union Saint-Gilloise’s impressive run, as the team prepares to face Cercle Bruges with a six-game home winning streak on the line. The club’s new coach emphasizes the pivotal role of its passionate supporters, a dynamic markedly different from his previous experience at Sporting Anderlecht.
The unwavering support of the Union faithful has been immediately apparent to the new coach, who noted the enthusiastic chants – even of his name – following his debut match against Charleroi. “I have known quite a few clubs but never such enormous support,” he stated at a recent press conference. “The way thay see things is almost excessive. It’s so unique that the players want to give something back on the pitch.”
A Unique Fan culture
This level of dedication isn’t simply about numbers; it’s about the nature of the support. The coach,who previously played for OHL and coached Louvain,recalls feeling the intensity of Stade Marien even as an opponent. “As an opponent, you feel that it will not be an easy match even if the fans are always very respectful,” he explained. “They are constantly positive, I’ve never seen that anywhere else.”
This contrasts sharply with the surroundings at Lotto Park, home of Sporting Anderlecht, where expectations are substantially higher given the club’s storied history. “Purple fans do not hesitate to express their dissatisfaction,” the coach observed. “This makes sense because they have been used to better than recent results. Anderlecht grew up in the quest for titles and this created an additional requirement.” He believes anderlecht supporters crave the stability Union has enjoyed for the past seven years, highlighting a fundamental difference in club culture.
Cercle Bruges: A Tricky Test Despite League Position
Despite a seemingly favorable matchup against cercle Bruges – currently second to last in the league and without a win since August 23 – the coach cautions against complacency. “Le Cercle is an underclassed team,” he said. “They have very good individualities, know how to score, and combine youth and experience. their points collection does not reflect their true level.”
Cercle has found the back of the net in eleven of their last twelve matches, demonstrating a consistent attacking threat. The coach stressed that Union’s
