Welsh Premier League Football - Anderlecht wary of The New Saints

ANDERLECHT admit to being wary of The New Saints, after being dumped out of the Champions League by the relatively unknown BATE Borisov.
Two years ago, a 2-2 draw in Belarus was not enough when Anderlecht lost 2-1 at home, missing out on the lucrative group stages.
Captiain Olivier Deschacht remembers the game well. “I'm very sorry, but I know nothing about TNS. No, I don't know any of their players.
"But maybe we are unknown to them as well.
"We are happy to play against them, but just for one reason: because it's a short trip and for reasons of organisation, it's better to play in Wrexham then Minsk.
“We don't think at all that they have a bad team. British football should suit Anderlecht, although we will miss players as Van Damme and Wasilewski, who are typically British players.
“We showed in the Supercup that we are ready for it. A nightmare like two years ago against Bate Borisov has to be avoided.
"The BATE experience has helped us to prepare this game against TNS seriously. There will be full concentration. Luckily, we will play on real grass. TNS are used to playing on a synthetic pitch, we aren't.
“Especially when it rains like against Bohemians, it is a tricky surface.”
Belgian international striker Tom De Sutter also mentioned the lessons learnt in the BATE Borisov game, and said Anderlecht just have to play their normal game.
"I have heard of TNS. I hear they play typical British football. We don't have to play their football - we, like Spain, need to play it on the ground and then we have a chance against any team.
“Two years ago we were knocked out of the Champions League by BATE Borisov and it was a nightmare. If we still have BATE in our heads we are not sportsmen.
“In 1978 we we went through by beating Wrexham and after that they won the Cup Winners Cup so maybe that's a good omen. I prefer this to some trip thousands of miles into the Ukraine or some other former Soviet Republic.”
De Sutter had looked unlikely to play, however injuries among Anderlecht's centre forwards mean he is likely to be at least in the squad.
"I have had a serious knee injury, out for three months, but I am ready again. I don't know if the trainer thinks I am ready to start as I have only had three or four training sessions. Lukaku is out so we only have (Matias) Suarez."
The 22-year-old Argentinean number 9 Suarez looks certain to start.
Mbark Boussoufa was Anderlecht’s player of the year last season and he insists The New Saints will not be underestimated.
"I cannot say anything about TNS, but if they beat Bohemians then they must be not that bad a team. Against BATE we learned not to underestimate any team in Europe, so for sure we will not underestimate The New Saints.”
Boussoufa said Anderlecht’s players are completely focused on reaching the Champions League group stages.
"No-one wants to be knocked out, especially in a tournament like the Champions League. This season the rules have changed so if we lose we would go into the Europa League - that would be no consolation at all.
"I think it is an advantage that the game is not being played on the synthetic pitch. Bohemians were surprised by the pitch. I played on the streets of Amsterdam, so I am used to surfaces like that, but some of my team mates are used to only grass.
"What's a good result? Lets not forget we have two games. I we cannot make the difference in the first leg we don't have to panic."
Photo: Anderlecht were dumped out by BATE two years ago.