After playing eleven games last season, Daan Dierckx is now hoping to win in the defense of the Standard. The central defender returned to the pre-season of the Rouches and the first impressions left by Mircea Rednic, after the second success of the preparation.
This Friday, Standard won its second friendly meeting against Maastricht. The Rouches launched their pre-season well and were very active on the transfer market, with already eight formalized recruits and a ninth in approach. After this second friendly match, Daan Dierckx took stock of this beginning of preparation.
“Several new ones have already arrived. It is good for us, for the group. They have been well integrated and we take pleasure in the field. We must still change the tactic a little, because we have just played a season and a half with five defenders and we are now trying with four. So there is a lot of work, but I hope that we will find the right solution.”
The players present last season must adapt to Rednic requests
The style of play advocated by Mircea Rednic differs clearly from that of Ivan Leko, who bet above all on defensive stability. Standard must always keep a certain organization, but the Romanian coach gives more freedom to his players, who must build the game from the back and play quickly, with verticality, to make the difference. The players are reactive and the current seems to pass well.
“We have to find confidence to make the right passes, but we are professionals, we have to adapt quickly. It takes a little time, but the preparation is there for that. We train twice a day, it’s going to go. It is clear that we play more with the ball, while last year we were running a lot without the ball.”
It must also be complicated for Mircea Rednic “
“The coach is nice, he gives confidence to the players and wants to see a football built from the back, by looking for depth, by creating actions. It must be complicated for him too: he must find solutions with the new players who must adapt, and we, who have played a very defensively season and a half, with five defenders. It will take time, so for him, but for the moment.”
Standard finds some competition
Despite the departures, this start of the Mercato supplied provides competition, especially in defense, even if Nathan Ngoy and Ibe Hautekiet are expected to depart. Daan Dierckx, who has already had the opportunity to show up in Jupiler Pro League last season, must now convince Mircea Rednic to chain.
“It’s good, there must be competition. We have a very good team and another three weeks before the start of the season. Personally, I will give myself all the way during the pre-season and we will see what can happen. I hope to be able to play even more than last season and have my chance here.”
