BRUSSELS (Reuters) - A 4-0 home defeat in the Champions League by Paris St Germain on Wednesday did little to dampen the mood of new Anderlecht coach Hein Vanhaezebrouck, who claimed his side played a near perfect first half and could take a lot of positives out of the game.
"With this performance we have shown progress," said Vanhaezebrouck, after only his second game in charge as Anderlecht struggle with form this season.
"The final result should have been 3-4 or 3-5. We were beaten by a very efficient team but that's what you expect at this level.
"But at times we showed we could match them. You know you are not going to get 30 chances against a team like PSG but we could have scored at least twice before half-time."
The Belgian champions were always on the back foot after Kylian Mbappe scored in just the third minute for the visitors, before later strikes from Edinson Cavani, Neymar and Angel Di Maria. PSG now have nine points in Group B while Anderlecht sit bottom after three successive defeats.
"Those things can happen but after conceding that goal we straightened our backs and had more possession and controlled the game and it was a pity we couldn't force an equaliser. It was a very positive showing even if we forgot to score. It was a near perfect first half," Vanhaezebrouck added.
"The death knell was conceding a goal just before the break. But what my players proved capable of, in just the short time I've had with them, was fantastic. Really positive."
His work will face a tougher examination at the end of the month when the Belgian champions head to Paris for their next Champions League encounter.
(Reporting By Mark Gleeson; Editing by Christian Radnedge)
