KV Mechelen players have spoken out against the idea of sacking coach Fred Vanderbiest. Following the defeat to Anderlecht, forward Myron Van Brederode defended the manager.
The situation is precarious for Malinwa, who have taken just two points from six matches and sit 15th in the Jupiler Pro League. The team has scored five goals and conceded fourteen. The return to a classic league format with two relegation spots adds to the pressure.
Van Brederode places responsibility on players
Myron Van Brederode was clear about the coach's role. He said the players are on the pitch and must put the ball in the net or keep it out, not the coach. He believes it is too easy to blame everything on the coach. According to Van Brederode, sacking Vanderbiest would not solve the current issues.
He also pointed to last season's success, when KV Mechelen under Vanderbiest were labelled the great revelation of the league. He asked rhetorically which coach has done what Vanderbiest did with KV Mechelen last year. He called for people to sometimes just be quiet and stand behind the team.
Poor run increases pressure
The recent results underline the concerns. The last five matches yielded one win, two draws and two defeats. The most recent result was a 3-0 loss to STVV on 24 May. The coming weeks are key, with a home fixture against that same STVV scheduled for 10 October. The opponent currently sits ninth.
The squad is also dealing with several absentees. Keano Vanrafelghem, Leo Fuhr Hjelde and Tijn Van Ingelgom are currently unavailable. Fans can check the full squad and current standings for more context. The next few weeks will show if the players' words translate into points on the pitch.
