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KAA Gent broke up with manager Laszlo Bölöni ahead of the Champions League qualifying third round match against Rapid on Tuesday night (8:30 PM). The 67-year-old Romanian had been in office for less than a month. Under his leadership there have been two league losses and at least the first win of the season in five games thus far.
The decision was not a surprise, as there was much criticism of Bölöni’s tactical leadership. Take star forward Roman Yaremchuk, for example. “We play like a second division team, the way we play football is just bad,” he said. As a result, the coach removed him from the team for the last league game. Now Bölöni has lost the fight for power.
The atmosphere in and around the team made further cooperation impossible, the Belgian runner-up announced Monday afternoon when the coach, who had only succeeded Jess Thorup in August, was immediately fired. Wim de Decker, 38, who only came as an assistant coach in the summer, was initially hired as an interim coach. It is supported by technical director Peter Balette.
Quick on “easy favorites” Gent for participation in the CL play-offs
The interim coach should fix it
In Ghent, Wim de Decker and Peter Balette have the opportunity to become a permanent solution. “We are not necessarily looking for a new coach. Wim has a chance to prove himself. He has shown in the past that he is capable of great things and now he has the opportunity to do it again. And that with Peter Balette. I think it will work, ”said Ivan de Witte.
The CEO of Gents was also self-critical about Laszlo Bölöni’s quick end: “In the 20 years of my presidency I have already made many decisions. If you make a hundred decisions, there will always be one wrong. ”The 67-year-old is a great coach, but he just didn’t fit in with the club.
For De Decker it is the second coaching position after Royal Antwerp, from where he only came as an assistant coach in the summer. “It is a great challenge. An advantage is that now I know the team quite well, ”said the 38-year-old. The main task is to restore peace and quiet to the team. Then sporting success should also return. “We know we have quality in the team, we want to show that now,” De Decker told the tour.
Balette had finished his job as an assistant coach in Ghent in the summer and started as a technical director. Now, the 59-year-old is quickly returning to the field.
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Kühbauer: “The decision does not affect us”
Fast trainer Dietmar Kühbauer was not impressed by the short-term castling on the supervisor’s bench in Ghent. “The decision to change coach does not affect us. We know the team and its strengths, ”explained the Burgenlander at the final press conference on Monday night in Belgium.
(THAN)
Photo: GEPA
