Anderlecht boss Herman van Holsbeeck has no plans to play it safe
and is targeting victory against Ajax as he wants his team to top
Group A.
The Belgians head to the Amsterdam ArenA on Thursday in a
delicate position in the Europa League. If they win the match, they
will move above Ajax into first place while a draw will see them
qualify for the knockout stages.
However, a defeat, coupled with a Dinamo Zagreb victory over
winless Timisoara, would see them tumble out of the tournament.
But despite that, Van Hoolsbeeck has no plans to take a
cautious approach. "We will do what we can to make sure we are
secure at the back and not completely open, but we will go all out
for victory," he said.
Anderlecht are seven points clear and cruising in the Jupiler
League, but Van Hoolsbeeck believes they must prove themselves on
the continental stage to earn any credit.
"On Thursday we will play a game against Ajax that is of the
utmost importance, that much is clear," he said.
"We must show that we deserve our place in the Europa League.
In Belgium we are cruising, several points clear about the rest. In
the JPL we have dominated in 90% of our matches, but the game
against Ajax will give us a true reading and show us exactly where
we stand."
Ajax, in contrast, might be forgiven for having one eye on
the weekend's trip to NAC Breda as they bid to chase down the top
two in the Eredivisie and get back in the reckoning for a Champions
League place next season.
Seven points separate Ajax from PSV Eindhoven in second, and
the trip to Breda promises to be tough as NAC have based their own
European challenge almost entirely on their home form. With that in
mind,
Martin Jol is unlikely to risk either Ismail Aissati or
Gabri. Both players returned to training this week but remain
doubtful to appear before the weekend.
