Anderlecht faces heavy workload ahead of July Europa League tie

RSC Anderlecht resumed training on Monday without a head coach, while preparing for their first Europa League match on 23 July against Hammarby, who sit fourth in Sweden's Allsvenskan after 11 games. The Belgian side also faces a thin squad as several key players remain on World Cup duty or have left the club.

Antoine Sibierski has yet to announce the new head coach, despite expectations for a Monday announcement when training restarted. The shortlist of candidates has narrowed in recent days, making the appointment appear imminent.

Giulian Biancone represents the first major signing of the Sibierski era. He was previously admired at Cercle Brugge, but his standing in the squad has since changed.

Jeremy Taravel, confirmed as assistant coach (T2), has taken charge of the sessions while awaiting the arrival of the future head coach. He knows the group intimately, having overseen them since the end of last season, though the current roster is limited.

Midfielder Nathan Saliba and forward César Huerta are competing in the World Cup, with both expected to feature at least until the round of 16. Their host nations are in good form and could realistically target the quarter‑finals.

Several players have not returned to the Neerpede training ground, including Yari Verschaeren, Mats Rits and Thorgan Hazard, whose contracts have expired without renewal. Additionally, loanees Mathys Angély, Moussa Diarra, Mihajlo Ilić and Coba Da Costa are unlikely to be signed permanently. Even if Saliba and Huerta exit the World Cup around 6 July, they are likely to enjoy a brief holiday before rejoining, meaning they will miss the full preparation period.

The core squad will be reinforced by youngsters from the Neerpede academy for the upcoming friendlies, yet the team must already be competitive for the Hammarby encounter. Coach Taravel stresses the need for a ready‑to‑play side despite the personnel gaps. Fans are encouraged to subscribe to the club’s newsletter to stay updated on Anderlecht’s developments.