Mark van Bommel considers the chances slim that Antwerp FC will qualify for the knockout phase of the Champions League. Asked to rate on a scale of one hundred how difficult that would be, the Dutchman said 'One hundred' at the press conference.
"That doesn't mean we have zero percent chance," he quickly added. Antwerp stands with zero points after the first three matches in the group stage. "I just want to be realistic towards the players and to you (the journalists)," he continued. "I could now say that we are going for nine points from three matches, but then I wouldn't come across as credible."
Van Bommel acknowledges that the Champions League is not the level for his team at the moment. "The fact remains that we have made it difficult for ourselves by reaching the Champions League, however strange that may sound. In the Europa League, we would now have had three points, or four, or six. Maybe even nine."
On Tuesday evening, Antwerp will play away at FC Porto, which won the previous match against the Belgians 1-4. And then Van Bommel also cannot count on captain Toby Alderweireld and Jean Butez. "Toby has already played a number of games with discomfort. In that, we took a small risk. We could have taken a big risk now, but I do not want to lose him for a longer period. He is super important for us because he regulates everything in the back."
