Club Brugge manager Nick Hayen launched a blunt warning to Barcelona ahead of their UEFA Champions League clash at the Jan Breydel Stadium.
Hayen insists his team is prepared and capable of pulling off a victory against the La Liga champions, cautioning Barça not to underestimate the challenge.
Addressing the media, Hayen was adamant that Club Brugge would not go into the match fearing Barcelona, despite the Blaugrana’s star-studded lineup. “We have very good weapons to play against such a big team as Barça,” Hayen said, as reported by Mundo Deportivo.
“They should not assume the win will come easily.” He stressed that his players must be aggressively focused and disciplined, ensuring they do not leave spaces that Barcelona could exploit.
“We have to keep a cool head and concentrate fully on the game,” the Belgian coach added.
Club Brugge comes into the match as the second-placed side in the Belgian league, riding the momentum of five consecutive domestic wins.
Yet Hayen is conscious that the European stage demands even greater toughness.
He highlighted the quality of Barcelona’s young star Lamine Yamal, but made it clear the Catalan squad’s threat extends beyond him. “We watch all their players, not just Lamine,” he explained.
Hayen also revealed some absences that could hinder Club Brugge’s lineup, including goalkeeper Simon Mignolet, defender Meijer, and midfielder Raphael Onyedika.
Former Barcelona B player Ludovit Reis is also sidelined with a shoulder injury and won’t face his old club.
These missing pieces add to the challenge, but Hayen’s outspoken confidence shows the Belgian side’s ambition to make a decisive impact at home.
Barcelona’s quest for vital points in the Champions League group stage faces an intense test under the watchful and fiery eyes of Nick Hayen, who is fully aware that his team must be relentless to secure a result against European heavyweights.
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