Deschacht desires return to glory days

RSC Anderlecht may be experiencing a disappointing domestic season but defender Olivier Deschacht is hopeful that FC Girondins de Bordeaux's visit in the UEFA Cup Round of 32 "will be the start" of their continental rebirth.

Domestic slump
Anderlecht have been Belgian champions for the past two seasons but will need something special to retain their crown as they sit fifth, eleven points behind leaders Club Brugge KV. So far their European campaign has been only marginally better. The Brussels side were defeated in UEFA Champions League third qualifying round by Fenerbahçe SK before squeezing into the knockout stages of the UEFA Cup behind Getafe CF and Tottenham Hotspur FC in Group G. Their third-place finish in the section earned them a tie with Bordeaux.

'Difficult game'
"Bordeaux does not look as tough as FC Bayern München [who Anderlecht could meet in the Round of 16] but when you look at their results you think it will be a difficult game," said Deschacht. "They are in good form and often gain points away from home. To be second in France is an achievement." The Anderlecht vice-captain is a one-club man and therefore among the most cherished players with the fans. He acknowledges that the chances of the two-time UEFA Cup Winners' Cup winners and former UEFA Cup holders returning to the top of the European scene are slim.

'Tough period'
"It's a tough period for Belgian football and Anderlecht," said the 26-year-old. "In Europe, we have struggled. The national team missed out on UEFA EURO 2008™ and all our top sides – [KRC] Genk, [KAA] Gent, [R.] Standard [de Liège], Club Brugge – are out of European competition except ourselves. I'm not surprised that people consider our league to be in decline. We have a point to prove against Bordeaux. It would be good for the whole of Belgian football and the start of something new for us."

English ambition
A regular since 2001, Deschacht could have transferred to bigger European sides in recent years but never wanted to leave. "I love Anderlecht and I'm happy here," he added. "I play for a trophy every year and I play in Europe too. If I'm fit, I'm sure to start games. It's tough to leave this behind. I don't feel I'm good enough to prevail in a big European team but, as for many players, England is a kind of dream for me. But putting pen to paper on a five-year contract here was also a dream."

Madrid memory
With Anderlecht, the full-back has already faced some of the best teams in Europe. "Real Madrid [CF] in 2000 is probably my best memory," he recalls. "We lost 5-1 but I managed to get Fernando Morientes' shirt who was their star player at that moment." Deschacht is hoping there will be plenty high-profile European nights still to come – and a victory against Bordeaux would be a good way to start.