Football Season Guide

OH Leuven had a tough last season that ultimately finished with calm play-off experience in Play-off II. The start to the campaign was poor. The results were bad up until November but then a vital managerial change turned the fortunes. Since taking charge in late November Oscar Garcia improved the displays. Still, Leuven needed a bit of luck on the final day of the regular season when they edged Charleroi only on goal difference to avoid finishing in the bottom 4. With their survival secured Leuven opted to battle-harden many youngsters in the subsequent Play-off II. Now in his first summer at the helm Garcia is expected to have even better idea which players he can trust as between the big battles of the regular season and the calm atmosphere of the play-offs he tested and assessed everyone. No regulars have left the team so far. The only major new signing made is that of experienced inner midfielder Birger Verstraete. Garcia likes to play possession-based football and Verstraete should help a lot for that. Siebe Schrijvers will still be the main ball distributor in the middle of the park, while experienced captain Maertens hopes to see his use increased. He lost his starting role since Garcia took over but this summer the team’s captain was impressive in several of the friendlies and his manager raved about his form on multiple occasions. Tobe Leysen became a regular on goal since Garcia took charge. The youngster kept 7 clean sheets in 22 games and he should continue being the preferred option between the posts. Up front there was some issue scoring goals last term. However, since Garcia started trusting wingers as fluid forwards things improved. This campaign the likes of Maziz, Nsingi, Brunes and Thorsteinsson are expected to rotate often in the forward positions.