Every football fan is surely watching Leverkusen’s run closely and wondering where coach Xabi Alonso’s men will stop. They haven’t lost a single game since the start of the season, losing points only in a draw with Bayern Munich. They are leading the Bundesliga, after four games they are certain to advance from the basic group of the Europa League.
Matěj Kovář catches cup matches, Patrick Schick is injured and Adam Hložek collects moments on the lawn sporadically. For example, since the last national team meeting, he has played 118 minutes, i.e. 19 percent of the total time. He gained playing practice mainly in the cup at third division Sandhausen, where he played the entire match and scored the winning goal in a 5:2 win.
“We are doing well. I know the minutes are not ideal for me, it is difficult. Unfortunately, I can’t say anything because it’s being won and the results are coming. Of course, I try to behave professionally and in training in such a way that I get space at least in the cups,” Hložek describes in the recording provided to the media by the national football team.
Why is Hložek unable to assert himself? In his regular commentary for Sport.cz, expert and former Bundesliga player David Jarolím mentions the fact that there is no place for the 21-year-old offensive player in the system that Alonso currently practices.
“With Patrik Schick, we know that he will fight for the position with Boniface at the top. The problem with Adam is that he doesn’t really fit into the 3-4-2-1 formation typologically. And if Leverkusen is doing well, there is no reason to change anything,” says Jarolím.
I struggle with it a bit, says Jan Kuchta about his waiting for a goal. He had to have an ultrasound before the national team meeting. Video: Sport.cz
However, Hložek is now fully focused on the national team, which will play a duel in Poland on Friday, and if they succeed, they can celebrate progress to EURO 2024 when the results match. If this does not happen, Monday’s duel with Moldova at the stadium in Olomouc will decide.
“We are going to Poland for the best of three points. We know how the cards are played. We have the last two matches ahead of us and we can take the last step towards the championship,” Hložek reminds us that the Czechs have progress in their hands.
