A bet with Kuchta? He probably doesn’t want the money anymore, Čvančara laughs. He doesn’t want Lewandowski’s jersey

Čvančar can claim his first loss in the A-team already on Friday at home against Poland, the second possibility will possibly come on Monday in Moldova. “I’ll be grateful if the coach points to me,” says the lanky forward. And trying to get the jersey of Barcelona superstar Robert Lewandowski? Rather not.

I knew right away that Patrik Schick was not at his best health-wise, and we are doing well in Sparta with Kuchtic (striker Jan Kuchta). But I was pleasantly surprised.

How are you enjoying the meeting so far?

Power. It is definitely different, I meet players who regularly play abroad, there is a lot of competition. Of course I have respect for what the more experienced guys have done, but would I be somehow knocked out? Not that. I am here thanks to quality performances. The coach decided that I belong here.

The Spartan attack is still shining in the spring, can the national team also benefit from the cooperation between Kuchta and Čvančar?

I am here to be ready to step in and help as much as possible. If it will be like that, the coach will decide. Even if I were to jump in and play with Kuchtic for example in the second half, there is no reason for us not to continue our cooperation. But I don’t care where the coach puts me. If he points to me, I will be grateful and want to repay the trust.

Does the bet with Jan Kuchta also apply in the national team, who will score more goals for whom?

We haven’t talked about it yet.

I don’t know at all. It seems to me that Honza has stopped asking for my money and has stopped giving me money. (laughs) People threw sticks under our feet and judged our relationship based on how well we could work together. We didn’t do anything about it and I’m glad we could shut them up now. We play together on Strah’s PlayStation, we have no problem at all spending our free time together.

In Sparta, in the 3-4-3 system, you don’t play at the top, how do you get used to a different position?

Moving to the side was something new for me, but it can’t be said that it was completely more challenging. I can use my speed, I’d say the post suits me better than fighting with hitters and being cut off from others. I can jump to the center, I have freedom of movement. It’s true that we didn’t do well with two on the tip, something had to change. The coach pointed to the two of us with Kuchtic that he wanted us in the starting line-up, and it was necessary for everyone to get used to something new. I took it cool. I played ten in Jablonec, it’s not completely foreign to me.

Do you see versatility as a big advantage?

Because of my height, everyone pushed me into the box to just stand there and head. I’m totally allergic to it and I’m glad I was able to expand my arsenal of weapons.

Do you currently have a life form?

I wouldn’t say, I scored goals consistently, except for the failure when I was on loan in Opava. I didn’t do well there at all, in retrospect I think it was not a good move to go so young to a team that is playing for salvation. Otherwise I was fine.

How much of a role does Sparta Coach Brian Priske have in your performances?

He devotes a lot of attention to us individually in the finishing technique. Every footballer should improve himself, but when the coach pushes you a little more, you do everything with more gusto. He brought a different mentality that is not common in the Czech Republic. It can also be seen in the performance. Overall, everything fell into place, everyone in the team understands their role and we identify with it. We are on the wave and we are happy about it.

As a striker of one of the best Czech teams, you are logically the target of strong defending. Maybe you had a concussion.

Since the spring, the interceptions have started to be released more, the protection of the players is not what it should be. A lot of interventions are over the edge, a lot is allowed. The concussion was unfortunate though, it could have been avoided. But that’s football and I have nothing to complain about.

The last round saw two short cuts of Peter Olayinka and Martin Fillo, you yourself don’t go far for emotions. Are you working on it?

True, they are emotions and sometimes there are too many of them. I realize that it hurts me a lot that sometimes I get too carried away by the game. As soon as something goes down, I’m there among the first and I try to defend myself and my teammates. It’s probably wrong, but it’s hard to change. Peter Olayinka did nonsense and I don’t think I have ever done anything like that.

You are still in the under-21 age category, in June the “small EURO” collides with another meeting of the senior national team. Do you have a personal priority in mind?

Representing our country is the most, and the A-team comes first. It is, of course, up to the coaches to decide. If I could choose and I had performance, I would like to be with A, which I rank the highest.

On Friday, the Czech team awaits the start of the qualification for EURO 2024 at home in Poland. What do you expect from your opponent?

We know that the Polish native did not like how they played little offensively at the World Cup. They will want to change it, they also hired a new coach. They’ve lost some defenders but they still have a quality team just like us, we’ll just give it to each other on the pitch.

How do you perceive the opponent’s main threat, forward Robert Lewandowski?

There is no need to draw special attention to him, he is a footballer of the highest level and everyone knows it. I’m glad to see him not only on Instagram, but also in real life. Cristiano Ronaldo is my role model, but I’ve seen the goals he scores, he’s got the finishing touches. He might be one of the players I want to copy in a few ways.

Will you want to swap jerseys with Lewandowski?

Probably not. If he came to me, maybe. But I won’t run after him. (smile)