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Ryan's Club Brugge on verge of lifting Belgian title

Club Brugge are closing in on a drought-breaking Belgian Pro League title.

With four matches remaining in the 2013/14 season, the Blue-Black sit two points ahead of second-placed Standard Liege as they get nearer to clinching their first premiership since 2005.

At the heart of the revival has been young Australian goalkeeper Mat Ryan who has featured in all 36 league fixtures in his debut season at the Jan Breydel Stadium, keeping 13 clean sheets.

As Brugge get set to enter the vital last few weeks of the campaign, Socceroos young gun Ryan is hoping the side can continue their consistent form in order to bring home a 14th Belgian championship and gain automatic qualification to the UEFA Champions League.

"It's all about the league for me right now and we're in a good position to go all the way," Ryan told SBS.

"We play third placed Anderlecht this weekend and if we win that we go six points clear of them and we play Standard the following week - and that's a huge one.

"The reason you play the game is to be involved in title races and the chase for trophies and all the talk at the club has been how long it's been without a championship, so I am doing all I can to help change that.

"Coming here and playing every week at a club going for silverware has really been a bit of a dream and the thought of possibly going on to be involved in a Champions League campaign would be incredible."

Ryan is still contracted to Brugge until the European summer of 2016 but there has been talk of an improved deal for the former Central Coast Mariners star, however, he is not too concerned about that at this point in time.

"It's a process and obviously I want to try and get the best deal for myself but there is no rush," he added.

"Being a footballer you never know where you are going to be one year after next, especially being here in Europe where money is thrown around and there's often not too much standing in the way of a move to a bigger club.

"But I am loving my time here and the perfect scenario for me would be to stay another year or two and hopefully win the title and play in the Champions League.

"That would be ideal but things don't always go to plan - surprises happen, both positive and negative. So I am just concentrating on the present at the moment."

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