Liverpool prepare to face Royal Union Saint-Gilloise in the Europa League.
Alexander Blessin, the head coach of Royal Union Saint-Gilloise, said that his team’s thoughts were on Liverpool during the weekend match.
On Thursday, the Reds will host the Belgian team at Anfield in a Europa League match. After a contentious 2-1 loss to Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool enters the Group E match on a negative note. Joel Matip’s own goal in the 96th minute interrupted Jurgen Klopp’s team’s unblemished start to the 2023–24 season, and they finished the game with nine men.
In the meantime, Union defeated Charleroi 3-1 to reclaim first place in the Jupiler League. Former Accrington defender Ross Sykes scored twice, while Christian Burgess, a centre back for Portsmouth and Middlesbrough, also scored.
In what will be a game in club history, Union will travel to Anfield as sizable underdogs. Blessin acknowledged the difficulty his team faces but joked that if Matip finds his own net once more, the visitors might have a chance to prevail. Het Nieuwsblad quotes him as saying: “It was a can opener in a tough contest. We were occasionally a little too lethargic and sleepy due to the high temperature at this time of year. We had previously been thinking about Liverpool.
“Playing against incredible players like [Ibrahima] Konate and Matip will be something different.” However, perhaps Matip will score another own goal as he did this past weekend, smiled Blessin. Our chance is then. When not?”
During his time as a youth coach at RB Leipzig, Blessin had already faced Liverpool. He enjoyed touring Anfield during that time and is looking forward to overseeing a match at the storied venue.
“We once played against the U19 of Liverpool in the preseason,” he said, “while I was still coaching the Leipzig U19. After that, we went to the museum and Anfield. I showed my wife a video of me playing at the stadium and expressed how it would be a dream to do so in the future. After five years, the moment has arrived. If it’s so special to me, I can only assume my players feel the same way.”