Jiri Pavlenka was recently considered the Czech national team’s regular goalkeeper – but in Bremen he is now only number two. Despite his EM ambitions, he doesn’t seem to be looking for a change.
What’s next for Jiri Pavlenka? IMAGO/RHR photo
The Czech Republic’s selection has already qualified for the European Championships next summer, but it is still not clear which head coach they will travel to the tournament in Germany with after Jaroslav Silhavy’s resignation in November. Accordingly, Jiri Pavlenka probably doesn’t really know where he really belongs in the national team, for which he has appeared 21 times so far.
The 31-year-old started in goal in five of seven international matches in 2023 and was therefore considered the first contender for the regular place between the posts – until he suffered the fateful adductor injury during the training course in October, which was ultimately a turning point for him marked last weeks. Not only did he miss the last three games with the Czech Republic – Pavlenka also lost his previous status as number one in the club: representative Michael Zetterer had used his absence to overtake him.
Fritz: No interest in giving Pavlenka away
And since then there has been little indication that Werder coach Ole Werner would reconsider this decision in the near future. After the last league game of last year against Leipzig, the 35-year-old said about Zetterer: “I think he has shown good performances in the last few weeks and has been good for us overall. That’s why he has strengthened his position and is currently the one is in our goal.” The 28-year-old has obviously earned credit, but at the moment the signs are not pointing to an open duel.
Less than six months before the start of the European Championship, given this limited perspective at Werder and the transfer window that opened at the beginning of January, one might have expected that Pavlenka would approach the club with the desire for a change – especially since his contract expires at the end of the season anyway . But so far no impulses have come from the keeper or his advisor, as head of professional football Clemens Fritz explains: “We are also very satisfied with our goalkeeping constellation and have no interest in giving up Jiri. We would like to continue with him.”
2024-01-03 08:07:20
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