RSC Anderlecht have no points, no goals and are last in the group standings, but ahead of their Champions League home game against Bayern the Belgians are hopeful their poor run will end. “Our honour depends on this game,” stated midfielder Leander Dendoncker on Tuesday at a press conference in the Constant Vanden Stock Stadium in Brussels.
Coach Hein Vanhaezebrouck, who took over at the 34-time Belgian champions from former Nuremburg boss René Weiler at the start of October, hopes for a better performance than in the 3-0 defeat in Munich in September. “We must try to play more efficiently,” said the 53-year-old, who has managed to stabilise Anderlecht’s position in the Belgian league.
Under Vanhaezebrouck Anderlecht have climbed from seventh to third in the Jupiler League and have collected just as many points as league leaders FC Bruges. In the Champions League though, the Belgians are still without a single point or goal and in last place.
'There’s danger everywhere'
Against Bayern the Belgians want to uphold their small chance of finishing above Celtic (currently on three points), and reaching the Europa League. “We'll try everything to keep alive our last hopes,” stated Vanhaezebrouck, who is without Nicolae Stancu and Ivan Obradovic on Wednesday.
This won’t be easy and Dendoncker is aware of that. “Bayern have won everything under Jupp Heynckes,” commented the 22-year-old Belgium international. Vanhaezebrouck believes his team can’t just focus on defending against goal machine Robert Lewandowski: “I don’t have a special plan for Lewandowski. Our defence must keep an eye on him at all times. But with Bayern there’s danger everywhere.”
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