Cercle Brugge coach Lars Friis says his team has returned with renewed energy ahead of the key home match against RSC Anderlecht this weekend. The Danish manager stressed that increased internal competition for starting spots is raising the overall quality of the squad.
Friis stuck to a planned rest period for his players during the international break. "Everyone received a personal schedule to maintain their fitness and came back with renewed energy afterwards," the coach said. He noted that freshness was immediately visible in training. This decision was maintained despite the club's current league position, sitting 17th in the Jupiler Pro League with three points from seven games.
Internal competition
According to Friis, competition within the squad has only intensified in recent weeks. "The battle for places is getting fiercer every week, which only leads to more quality," he explained. He sees this development as a positive sign for the future, even though he is not satisfied with the current 15th-place standing. He views that position as a snapshot that should not be overemphasised.
The first real test of whether training improvements translate to match performance comes on Saturday against Anderlecht. Cercle Brugge enter the confrontation after a mixed run of five matches, with three wins and two defeats in their most recent outings. The team lost its last two league games, against Zulte Waregem and RAAL La Louvière. Supporters can check the full standings and upcoming fixtures schedule for context.
Following the clash with the Brussels top club, Cercle Brugge face an away trip to league leaders Union Saint-Gilloise on October 24th. Friis and his players have scored eight goals and conceded fourteen so far this season.
The report in full is at voetbalprimeur.be
