When Pavlenka returned to Bremen after the national team meeting in October, when he missed a badly unsuccessful match in Albania (0:3), he was troubled by problems with the hamstrings. He missed four league matches, and after one duel on the bench, he was absent once more. However, he did not regain his place between the posts. It is true that he last caught a competitive match for Werder on October 7 against Hoffenheim (2:3).
In the goal of the traditional club from the north of Germany, Michael Zetterer, who has started in his last ten games in the Bundesliga, rules now. “Jiří Pavlenka was unlucky that during his injury in the fall, Michael Zetterer represented him well. Zetterer is particularly strong in his footwork. He is almost always ready to join the game and adds security to the defense, which has had problems this season,” German journalist Malte Bürger, who closely follows events at Werder and writes for the website deichstube.de, described the situation for Sport.cz.
“Pavlenka pays for whoever is stronger on the goal line. He didn’t make a big mistake this season, yet coach Ole Werner and his assistants decided to keep betting on Zetterer. He should also be number one in goal during the spring part of the season,” Bürger added.
With Pavlenko in goal, Werder scored two wins and five defeats, with Zetterer two wins, five draws and three losses. “Jirka has a great position in the club, although the situation is not easy at the moment. I have to say for myself that Zetterer does not convince me. Certainly not in such a way that I would say that he is better than Jirka Pavlenka. In Bochum, he caught a decent match, but in recent weeks he has appeared directly in the goals conceded several times. We will see during the spring, but I think that Jirka will return to the goal. Sometimes, even for goalkeepers who have been number one for a long time, such a situation is motivation. It can kick them to better performances,” concluded former midfielder David Jarolím, who spent most of his career in Germany and now regularly covers events there for Sport.cz.
The native of Hlučín has been working in Bremen for the seventh season, he is devoted to the club, he stayed during that time even after relegation to the second division and helped Werder to immediately return to the German elite. What’s next? He has a contract until the end of the season, and the club that believes in green and white colors would apparently like to sign a new contract with him.
On the other hand, he is certainly not comfortable with zero workload at the moment, and in addition, the European Championship is being held in Germany in June. The new implementation team led by head coach Ivan Hašek immediately threw himself into work, the team is yet to get to know him. It is quite possible that Pavlenka would go to the championship, even if he did not catch in the spring. But hardly in the number one position.
National team goalkeeper Jiří Pavlenka and his position in Germany, contribution from the program PřímákVideo: Sport.cz
According to Sport.cz, his transfer to another location due to workload before the continental championship is currently not being resolved. In addition, Werder would probably not like to let go of a reliable goalkeeper, the second half of the Bundesliga season will be even more demanding and long. “Jirka Pavlenka developed into one of Werder’s main personalities in Bremen. He enjoys great respect at the club and across the Bundesliga. We are dealing with his future primarily with the player and, of course, the management of Werder,” the player’s manager Viktor Kolář, head of the football section of the Sport Invest agency, responded to Sport.cz.
“Departure? It hasn’t been a big topic yet. Werder wants to continue working with Pavlenko, he himself takes his situation professionally and the club representatives respect him for that. There are no offers even at this moment. But that can still change,” journalist Bürger provided current information from the north of Germany.
2024-01-16 21:24:15
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