Club Bruges need a miracle to knock out Manchester United, admits boss Michel Preud’homme

Manchester United beat Club Bruges 3-1 in the first leg at Old Trafford
Michel Preud’homme says his team must be ‘perfect’ to stand any chance
Club Bruges have eight injured players, with Tom De Sutter set to leave
Preud’homme believes United will cope with the pressure of an early goal
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Published:
15:24 GMT, 25 August 2015

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Updated:
10:55 GMT, 26 August 2015

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Michel Preud’homme believes his Club Bruges side will need divine intervention to prevent Manchester United from claiming a spot in the Champions League group stage.

The Flanders region in northern Belgium played host to some of the most devastating battles of World War I, but there was no sign of any fighting talk from Bruges’ coach on the eve of Wednesday’s Champions League play-off second leg against United.

With his team 3-1 down from the first leg at Old Trafford, Preud’homme was keen to play down his their chances of pulling off an upset.

Memphis Depay scores his second goal in Manchester United’s 3-1 win against Club Bruges at Old Trafford

Club Bruges manager Michel Preud’homme believes his side need a miracle to get past United on Wednesday

The former Belgium goalkeeper refused to bang the drum at his pre-match press conference. Passion subsided in the face of realism.

Indeed his assessment was so bleak that he concluded something miraculous was needed to stop United from advancing to the group stage.

‘Miracles happen sometimes, but they are two goals in front and they are a very professional team,’ Preud’homme said.

‘To get a miracle, you need to be perfect and you need the other to not play at his best potential. We have a lot of players out, too.

‘If we want to have a chance, we have to be perfect. It will be very difficult, but let’s pray.’

The reason for Preud’homme’s pessimism is clear. As the 56-year-old says, his squad is ravaged by injury with eight players, including the suspended Brandon Mechele, unavailable.

Club Bruges’ players celebrate after Michael Carrick’s early own goal during the first leg at Old Trafford

Marouane Fellaini heads home United’s third goal against Club Bruges in their Champions League play-off

The club’s top striker, Tom De Sutter, who scored 13 goals last term, will complete his transfer to Turkish club Bursaspor on Thursday.

It could be the last game for star playmaker Victor Vazquez too as he has been the subject of interest from several Spanish clubs.

‘The player has to manage it,’ the Bruges coach said of Vazquez, who supplied the assist for the Belgian club’s only goal at Old Trafford, which came off the shin of Michael Carrick.

‘We’re in the period of the last week before the end of the transfer period. It’s always the same story each year.’

Club Bruges’ top striker, Tom De Sutter, is set to complete a move to Turkish side Bursaspor on Thursday

Not even an early goal will necessarily help swing the tie in Bruges’ favour either, according to their coach.

‘This United team can live with pressure,’ Preud’homme said.

‘They have it each day, each minute in each game. When you see this team playing, they play on their quality, against Tottenham, against Newcastle, against us. They keep doing the same.

‘I don’t think they’ll have more pressure if we score, but it’s important for our confidence if we score.’