Birmingham City: Club Brugge look set to restore the balance

Nov 3 2011 By Colin Tattum

CLUB Brugge have vowed to get the balance right at St Andrew’s tonight.

Caretaker coach Rudi Verkempinck has stressed the importance of being ‘awake’ to defensive duties in the Europa League showdown against Birmingham City.

Adrie Koster lost his job after four successive defeats, which began with Blues 2-1 success in Bruges a fortnight ago.

Club Brugge’s open style of all-out attack has been too Kamikaze for Verkempinck, Koster’s former assistant.

“If you see the past of the season, we have played very good games offensively.

“It is very important to keep this.

“But football is not only offensive, we have to also play realistic and that means the balance in the team.

“We have to be awake to this and think faster about what can happen if we lose the ball, ask ourselves are we in a good position?

“The balance is very important. If we can keep the strong points of the past, and make our defence better, we can progress as a team.”

Club Brugge have thrown away the lead in all of the last four outings.

Most spectacularly was last Saturday against Genk when 4-2 with 20 minutes to go ended up 4-5.

And they have problems at the back tonight. Full-back Tom Hogli is out, while centre-half Michael Almeback is a doubt after suffering a facial injury in that game.

Midfielder Vadis Odjidja has been taken ill and is not 100 per cent, but will play, said Verkempinck.

Goalkeeper Colin Coosemans could be for the chop also.

Club Brugge have to stand up to Blues this evening, the caretaker said, but not get embroiled purely in a battle.

“Birmingham are a very strong team, a physically strong team.

“You look at their strikers Zigic and Wood, really strong boys at the front.

“If they play long balls, on the second ball they are very good.

“We have to keep our offensive way of playing. That means playing our own system, between the lines, then you have a chance to get a good result.

“But if you play like them, just physical strength, it will be difficult.”

Verkempinck said he believed 10 points was needed to go through from the group.

"If we can take three points tonight, perfect; one point, then OK. We go for the win.”