At the press conference ahead of the Matchday 4 fixture, coach Felice Mazzù and defender Rune Paeshuyse agreed that the Pandas are facing a difficult match. “There are no easy games in this league, and that also applies to the U23 teams, who field many talented players. Club NXT won at Patro Eisden last week, which shows that we certainly mustn’t underestimate this opponent,” Rune Paeshuyse told journalists.

Club NXT still unbeaten

Felice Mazzù emphasised that, following their victories over Seraing and Patro, Club NXT are the only team in the Challenger Pro League to have not yet dropped a point, adding: “It will be a match against a very strong opponent, one that possesses talent and a real passion for the game, and whose style is very similar to that of Club Brugge’s first team. It will therefore be a very challenging match and will provide us with a good opportunity to assess where we stand.”

Felice Mazzù: “We must play proactively, not reactively”

In the manager’s view, the key to success lies in putting in a committed performance right from the first minute. “Both against Jong Genk and in Lokeren, we went through some difficult spells to which we reacted. We still managed a clear win against Jong Genk in the end, but in Lokeren, with the score at 0–2, it was too late to turn the game around. We need to go out from the very first minute with a clear head and full of energy; we must take the initiative rather than react,” the manager told journalists.

Without Logan Delaurier-Chabet and … Marco Hiller

Against Club NXT, KAS Eupen will have to do without not only the suspended Logan Delaurier-Chabet but also Marco Hiller. The goalkeeper has undergone surgery following an adductor injury and, according to Felice Mazzù, will be out for a few weeks. At the time of the press conference, Théo Maréchal’s availability was still in doubt due to injury.