Union Saint-Gilloise traveled to face Bodø/Glimt on Tuesday, August 11 with only sixteen outfield players and two goalkeepers available for the Champions League playoff second leg, kicking off at 18:00 a week after a 3-3 first-leg draw in Belgium.
The shortage stems partly from UEFA's own rules. Clubs are allowed 25 players on their squad list, but at least two must be goalkeepers and eight must be club-trained. Union Saint-Gilloise has only four homegrown players, which cut its available list to just twenty-one names.
Injuries, grief and a transfer cost the club three more players
Of those twenty-one eligible players, three had to withdraw from the trip. Forward Kevin Rodriguez pulled out following a bereavement, defender Ross Sykes is injured, and midfielder Anan Khalaili is in the process of leaving the club for Crystal Palace. That left the Brussels side with just sixteen outfield players and two goalkeepers for the match.
Hubert makes light of the squad crunch
Coach David Hubert made a joke of the situation at a press conference, saying it meant he could make all five substitutions, which suited him fine. He said things had happened in the meantime that were, unfortunately, beyond his control, calling them unforeseen circumstances he had to deal with, and said he would not go looking for excuses.
Hubert said he was looking at what he had available and who he could bring on, adding that this had turned out to be a strength for his side and that he was very satisfied with it, since the substitutes could always make a contribution.
Union Saint-Gilloise will need exactly that kind of contribution to eliminate Bodø/Glimt, last season's continental sensation.
