Mechelen kicked the season off with determination to establish themselves among the top six but they actually had a pretty rough opening month or so and soon found themselves bottom of the standings after losing six out of eight games.
They actually played some decent football but too often undermined themselves with poor mistakes at the back and Wouter Vrancken started to feel the pressure as the campaign went on. Yet, he managed to steer the team in the right direction towards the end of 2020 as four wins either side of the winter break moved the Yellow and Reds away from immediate relegation danger.
Indeed, they developed into one of the most consistent and in-form sides in the league from January onward and went on a run of just one defeat in 11 games.
That suddenly turned Mechelen into a side competing for European spots and that transformation was underpinned by the quality in midfield of players like Rob Schoofs and Geoffrey Heiremans while the direct running and cutting edge of winger Nikola Storm proved a real game-changer too.
There were a few stumbles late in the regular season but a win on the last day of it at Kortrijk ensured a spot in the top eight. Indeed, the team maintained the good run and remained unbeaten for the first five of the six play-off games, seeing off Oostende at home for a 5:3 win in a key duel.
Mechelen still needed to avoid a defeat at home to Gent on the last day of the season to secure a European ticket. Yet, they fell short after a 2:1 loss and will have to swallow that bitter pill after what was a mostly satisfying and successful season.
