Speaking after Club Brugge’s win over Standard Liege, former Barcelona striker Ferran Jutgla revealed the frustration he was having under head coach Scott Parker. As reported by Het Nieuwsblad, the striker said ‘The previous coach put me on the bench for no reason. He didn’t explain anything. That was difficult to understand‘.
Parker was relieved of his duties by the Club Brugge hierarchy after just 12 games in charge, with the 5-1 defeat away to Benfica in the Champions League being the final straw. While Alfred Schreuder, who helped the side win the title last season, has been heavily linked to the vacancy, Rik De Mil has been given temporary charge.
It appears that this decision has helped boost Jutgla’s confidence. Jutgla was full of praise for De Mil, saying ‘De Mil has given me a lot of confidence. That’s what I need: someone who trusts me. You always have to work, but if the coach trusts you, it’s easy to gain trust’.
Under Parker the side won just two of their 12 matches, which came against relegation threatened Zulte Waregem and Gent. While no agreement has been reached with Schreuder yet, other names have also been linked. Former Oostende and Genoa head coach Alexander Blessin’s name has been circulated, but it appears that Club Brugge don’t see him as someone to take over midway through the season. Given his desire to play with a certain style, they believe he would need more time to implement his tactics.
The side are currently in a battle to make the top four and guarantee themselves some form of European football. Hence, they are not willing to take a short-term risk for potential long-term gains with just a few games to go.
GBeNeFNÂ |Â Ben Jackson
