NAKED AMBITION

5

When Antwerp lost 4- 2 to Omonoia Nicosia in the first leg of Europa League qualifying, their boss had a brainwave to rescue the tie.

Realising that mere tactics couldn’t possibly be enough – despite being the favourites, having reached the last 32 last season – their new manager Brian Priske plumped for the banzai option: motivating his players with a promise to do a press conference in the nude if they kept a clean sheet and made it to the group stage.

Antwerp won the second leg 2- 0 and progressed on penalties, so the former Portsmouth defender turned up for his post- match media duties starkers. It’s best not to imagine what he’ll do if they make it past Christmas again.