Before conducting a video session the day before the match, Lucien Favre and Mika Seri appeared before the press. With hours to go until the encounter against Zulte-Waregem (which starts on Thursday at 7pm), the coach and manager delivered a general overview.

17th in L1 going into matchday 14, the Gym finds itself at the start of an intense period (9 matchs in one month), and will have to prove itself to be solid in order for things to take off. “It’s a difficult moment for us. This match gets us away from the league” admitted Lucien Favre, with hope that this European aside will get things going for the Aiglons. “Everybody really wants to get through this round and to qualify for the next one. It would be magnificent and definitely positive.” 

”There is the league on one side, the Europa League on the other: you have to be able to separate the two, we are aware of what is waiting for us” added Mika Seri.

“We aren’t thinking about a big win, but just a victory, full stop.  

“What awaits the group”, to steal the vice-captain’s phrase, is a clash against an opposition who are the current holders of their domestic cup.   

“One of the things with the Belgian league is that they run a lot, they press and they counter quickly...” according to Lucien Favre, who couldn’t escape without a question about the first leg. “In the end, it finished 5-1, but we forget that there was a huge bit of luck on one side, explained the coach. Before scoring, I think they had one or two great chances. Even at 3-1, they had a huge chance. It comes down to small margins.” These details went against the Gym during the 4th match of the group stages, when an own goal in the 93’, along with Zulte’s victory against Arnhem, created suspense in Group K. To achieve qualification, one thing is required: the Aiglons need to dominate on home turf. “At this stage of the competition, we aren’t thinking about a big win, but just to win full stop”, explained the Ivorian number 6. A win which would send the Gym into the next round.

Finally, in a squad update, the Swiss coach explained that there will be no returns on Thursday night. He then added: “Saint-Maximin will come back, but we don’t know when. For Wylan Cyprien, we don’t know either. He will play a half for the reserves this weekend. We will see after that.”

---