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Union St Gilloise faced their third consecutive defeat in the Champions League on Tuesday evening. Despite their best efforts, they fell 3-1 to Atletico Madrid in an away match. Initially considered the underdogs, Union left the match feeling they deserved at least a draw.
Following the match, players and head coach David Hubert shared their thoughts with the media. Former KV Mechelen captain Rob Schoofs noted that Atletico provided a ‘lesson in efficiency and quality’. Although Hubert was disappointed with the result, he praised his team’s passion and dedication, expressing, ‘I’m proud of what the boys showed’.
Hubert, who joined Union from the modest club OH Leuven just weeks ago, has seen the team remain competitive domestically. Their performance against Atletico was a marked improvement, likely boosting their confidence as they continue in the Champions League. After two previous heavy defeats of 4-0 to Newcastle and Inter, it’s clear that the team has learned valuable defensive lessons and needs to capitalize on the opportunities they create.
Notably, Union had more English players in their starting lineup against Atletico than both Liverpool and Tottenham combined in their fixtures. One of those players, Ross Sykes, who scored their only goal, shared mixed emotions, feeling happy about his contribution but saddened by the overall result.