Mark van Bommel has started his adventure at Royal Antwerp in an excellent way. The Dutch trainer has been new to the Belgian top club since this season and can count on rave reviews. He is praised for creating a recognizable identity within his team, and decisions about positions of star players are seen as logical.
The former midfielder has started the Pro League with nine points from three matches. KV Mechelen (0-2), Zulte Waregem (1-0) and OH Leuven (4-2) were successively defeated. In between, FC Drita, which made it difficult for Feyenoord last season, was eliminated in the preliminary round of the Conference League (0-0, 0-2). Moreover, Antwerp has won the first showdown with Lillestrøm SK on Norwegian soil 1-3, bringing it closer to reaching the group stage of that tournament.
With seven goals for and two against, the team is already five points apart from reigning champions Club Brugge. Van Bommel is praised for giving his new team an identity so quickly. “It is striking how coach Mark van Bommel has brought clarity to Antwerp’s game in no time,” analyzes Sporza journalist Peter Vandenbempt. “They play football recognizable and that was a problem all season last year under Brian Priske. “What does Antwerp stand for?”, we always wondered.”
Van Bommel has strong holders such as Toby Alderweireld and Radja Nainggolan at his disposal and is praised by Vandenbempt for using his star players in the right way. “The midfield is in balance with a very strong Alhassan Yusuf and Toby Alderweireld brings what was expected of him in the back: stability and experience. There were also strong individual performances, such as attacker Michael Frey, who was doomed to be a substitute after all. Vincent Janssen’s top purchase, but the Swiss continues to work imperturbably and score. Nainggolan had indicated that number 10 is his best position and Van Bommel obeys. No more switching pays off.”
On Thursday, Antwerp will play the return game with Lillestrøm SK. If that hurdle is survived, Antwerp will most likely meet Istanbul Basaksehir in the play-offs of the Conference League. The Turks won their first game, just like Antwerp, with 1-3. In Iceland, the formation of trainer Erdinç Sözer, partly due to a goal by former Go Ahead Eagles player Deniz Türüç, was too strong for Breidablik.