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‘He Is the Driving Force’: Courtois Highlights Club Brugge’s Biggest Weapon Against PSV
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- ‘He Is the Driving Force’: Courtois Highlights Club Brugge’s Biggest Weapon Against PSV
PSV have been warned about the threat posed by Club Brugge captain Hans Vanaken ahead of Wednesday evening's Champions League meeting, with Belgian analyst Imke Courtois identifying the midfielder as the driving force behind the visitors.
The Dutch champions welcome the Belgian league leaders to the Philips Stadium for a 9pm kick-off, knowing that their 7-0 victory over Willem II last weekend offers little indication of the challenge awaiting them in Europe.
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Rafael van der Vaart was quick to make that distinction during NOS Studio Sport Voetbal, although he acknowledged that the comfortable win provided useful preparation.
"This wasn't a test, of course. Club Brugge is a different story, but it's nice that you have such an easy match for preparation," the former Netherlands international said.
Van der Vaart also highlighted the positives from the Willem II match, particularly Ricardo Pepi's return to the scoresheet and Sven Mijnans' impressive finish .
"Let's be honest. You score a few good goals and Ricardo Pepi is back again. He nodded it in nicely as well. Sven Mijnans, incidentally, really did score a world-class goal, that with his inside foot. Now he just needs to keep finding the goal in that way, but really very, very beautiful," he added.
![PSV have been warned about the threat posed by Club Brugge captain Hans Vanaken [IMAGO/Belga]](https://s.yimg.com/lo/mysterio/api/abcbfa739a20e5a0a278db9ef0d5608bbf8dca96e24e8e144901807c4d08f3fe/lightyear_networkapi/resizefill_w960%3Bquality_80%3Bformat_webp/https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.zenfs.com%2Fen%2Froundtable_sports_psv_eindhoven_320%2Fa19c0ea573ff902a85e7c6a33a830300.jpg)
PSV have been warned about the threat posed by Club Brugge captain Hans Vanaken [IMAGO/Belga]
Courtois Identifies Vanaken as Club Brugge's Driving Force
Courtois, who regularly appears on Sporza and NOS, offered a closer look at the threat PSV will face in Eindhoven.
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She pointed to Club Brugge's domestic position and their impressive European performances, including their victory over Inter, before singling out Vanaken as the key figure in midfield.
"They are currently the leaders in Belgium and in the Champions League they have already done well too. They beat Inter, for example. And if I have to mention a few names, names you've probably heard before as well, then Hans Vanaken is really the driving force in midfield," Courtois explained.
Van der Vaart acknowledged the midfielder's quality, despite initially needing convincing.
"He had to convince me, but I do think he's a really strong player," he said.
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However, Courtois also had another name in mind when discussing the player PSV should be particularly wary of: Nicolò Tresoldi.
"That indeed was the question, but he has such an important role in Bruges. He also plays every year for the title; you play Champions League and he performs at Club Brugge. So why would you leave? And I would say: above all, watch out for Nicolò Tresoldi. That is the little golden find of Club Brugge," she added.
![Vanaken's youth coaches at PSV, remembered his technical ability, creativity and forward drive [IMAGO/Belga]](https://s.yimg.com/lo/mysterio/api/1d30b32205cf847fa9ddae93655e464ce6cda64768206b5461812f2380ab3d0c/lightyear_networkapi/resizefill_w960%3Bquality_80%3Bformat_webp/https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.zenfs.com%2Fen%2Froundtable_sports_psv_eindhoven_320%2Fb0c9fb0554fadf80d7be93e23714f351.jpg)
Vanaken's youth coaches at PSV, remembered his technical ability, creativity and forward drive [IMAGO/Belga]
Vanaken's PSV Past Offers An Insight Into His Development
Vanaken's connection with PSV adds another layer to Wednesday's encounter. The Club Brugge captain spent time in the Dutch club's youth academy between 2002 and 2008, having attracted interest from KRC Genk before making the move to Eindhoven.
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In an interview with Het Nieuwsblad, his father, Vitel Vanaken, revealed that PSV's transport arrangements helped make the difference.
"That was the deciding factor. In Genk they still hadn't offered transport. And we couldn't take him there," he explained.
Vanaken initially played as a striker, with his father recalling a youngster who enjoyed taking on opponents.
"In those first years it was dribbling, dribbling, dribbling. Sometimes to the annoyance of some of the others," Vitel added.
Former PSV youth coach Mart van Duren also remembered Vanaken's versatility, explaining that he was used both as a central defender and an attacking midfielder.
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"I lined him up as a four or as a ten. PSV likes to play with one 'real' defender in the back and one 'footballing' player, who takes care of the build-up. That's still the case now. And Hans had already early on a lot of game insight," Van Duren said.
He also recalled the midfielder's occasional frustration when asked to play in defence, describing him as a little stubborn.
Pepijn Lijnders, another of Vanaken's youth coaches at PSV, remembered his technical ability, creativity and forward drive.
"I still remember how he had a tremendous drive forward with the ball. As a person, he was more reserved, but still smart. I think it's great to see how he has developed," Lijnders said, as quoted by PSV Inside .
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Now established as Club Brugge's captain and midfield leader, Vanaken returns to familiar surroundings with PSV facing the task of containing one of the Belgian side's most influential players.
