"I have faith in our entire squad"

On Sunday, RSC Anderlecht faces an important game against Antwerp in a sold out Lotto Park. Vincent Kompany looks ahead.  

"It’s important for us that the stadium is once again sold out", said the coach. "I hope the fans will make themselves heard and support us. However, the team must remain calm and prepare the match serenely like any other match."  

The coach did not indicate yet who will replace Hoedt at centre-back. "We are considering all possible options. I can confirm though that both Zeno and Hannes are not options, they are both unavailable due to injuries. Zeno is probably out a bit longer, we won't be counting on him for a while. And with Hannes too, we remain extra cautious, to break that vicious circle of injuries." 

"We have a lot of versatile players who can play in the heart of the defense. Sardella is also an option as a central defender. He is a kid of Neerpede who still has a lot of margin for improvement. Let's not forget that he is only 19 years old, what he has already shown at his age is impressive. As with any young player, not everything comes naturally. Just look at the steps Delcroix took before he became a stronghold in defense." 

The coach is expecting a strong opponent on Sunday. "Antwerp are a strong team with a lot of experience and guys who can make the difference. They are built to achieve instant success. We can't concede on any detail. I hope we can prove that we are a better team than in the first game. We have worked hard to be where we are now and I am looking forward to the game", concludes Kompany.