RSC Anderlecht sits eliminated from the Croky Cup following a loss to Beerschot, compounding a difficult start to the season under head coach Vítor Bruno, Voetbalkrant.com reported. A parfum de crise waait door het Astridpark, with the team facing early elimination in the Belgian Cup and an European 0 op 6 that sees chances for a first trophy since 2017 evaporate, leaving fans who dreamed of fighting for prizes to face a reality check where they are already eliminated on three fronts and must hope to survive the winter in Europe while aiming for a maximum of third place in the league.

Transfer Policy Under Scrutiny

The defeat has intensified doubts regarding the club’s summer recruitment strategy. Former Anderlecht manager Hein Vanhaezebrouck voiced sharp criticism of the sporting department’s decisions during an appearance in Het Nieuwsblad, specifically questioning the acquisition of Finnish winger Oliver Antman. Of the 11 summer transfers, Yves Taildeman noted that only two or three provide a real added value, specifically pointing to the central defensive duo Biancone and Pétrot, alongside Tawfik Bentayeb who occasionally scores a goal even though he should have scored against Beerschot, while noting that Antman brings no surplus and pointing out that Vitor Bruno’s white-moon period is over as questions surround his experience after serving for years as Sergio Conceiçao’s assistant at Porto before spending only six months as head coach.

“Whoever appoints the coach always bears responsibility. Has the sporting director made the right choices? Bringing in Antman for the left flank, for example, I find a wrong transfer,” Vanhaezebrouck said.

Tactical Misalignment on the Flanks

Vanhaezebrouck argued that Antman is not being deployed in his optimal position, noting that the player functions best on the right wing. Even in that role, the analyst expressed reservations about his overall impact, stating that Anderlecht already possesses several options for that specific position, including Winkler, Ambros, and Noa Ojea.

VoetbalPrimeur.be noted that Vanhaezebrouck also criticized the team’s predictable buildup play, pointing out that wingers frequently operate on their “unnatural” foot. According to Vanhaezebrouck, attacking momentum only improved after a red card forced tactical adjustments.

Squad Instability and Rotation

Reporting from Sporza by Yves Taildeman highlights that Vítor Bruno has utilized 30 different players since the start of the campaign, including 20 in a single week. This constant rotation has hindered the development of on-field automatisms and left the team struggling to establish a consistent identity.

Anderlecht-online noted that the squad instability has particularly impacted youth prospects developed at Neerpede. While early-season preparations offered academy players exposure, their playing time in the senior side has diminished, coinciding with a difficult period for the RSCA Futures in the U23 division.

Upcoming Fixtures and Stakes

Anderlecht faces a demanding schedule ahead of the second international break, with UEFA matches against Jagiellonia Białystok and RB Salzburg, alongside domestic fixtures against KAA Gent, Westerlo, and Club Brugge.