In the winter, he arrived from Tromsö, Norway, with an imaginary price tag of 50 million crowns hanging around his neck, which is roughly how much Slavia bought him for. The 19-year-old defender Diouf was not in a hurry in Eden, coach Jindřich Trpišovský let him have a look. Ramenáč from Senegal did not make his debut until the third round of spring, and he managed the part in Karviná wonderfully: he scored one goal and forced the opponent to score another, it was Amar Memič’s own strike.
“Karviná Diouf didn’t quite check back in the game, but it looks like his set-up is very good. They praised him in Slavia from the first training session,” explained Rajnoch. “When he ran to the coach after the goal, I could see in him the pure joy of a kid who got an opportunity. Not only in the match, but overall in the opportunity to come to Slavia. It was clear from him that he wanted to prove something and move on. I don’t want to underestimate anyone, but this is not very common with African players.”
In Karviná, he oscillated along the left line, showed strength in duels and, as we have already mentioned, was involved in two of the three Slavist goals. “He demonstrated everything for which Slavia bought him. A great left foot, intensity, acceleration, speed and hardness,” Rajnoch mentioned.
And the case of Winter? This is an old acquaintance for the Slavic nation, he is wearing the red and white jersey after two and a half years at FC Turin. In the fall, he managed only five league episodes there, and maybe that’s why he missed the spring prologue with Jablonec (4:3). “Probably the three conceded goals led Slavia’s coaches to include David in the lineup. I’m a little sad that it’s at the expense of young Vlček, who I see as a very talented player with a great future,” remarked Rajnoch.
“Zima is a quality stopper, but it was obvious that he hadn’t played for a long time. Perhaps that is also why he was given space in the second spring match in Zlín and then in Karviná to gain game practice and be ready for a series of difficult matches. The axis of the team is clear, and Zima will probably belong to it,” described Rajnoch. “He needs to play in the direction of the summer EURO and in time perhaps to be sold again. The same goes for the other stopper Ogbu, he too could move on from Slavia one day.”
The question is how the story of the soon-to-be 23-year-old Tomáš Vlček, who played regularly in the fall after returning from a loan spell in Pardubice, will continue. “It is important to talk to him continuously so that he knows what his situation is,” emphasized Rajnoch. “Slavia will have a lot of matches in the spring and chances may come, Vlček can be very valuable for the club in the future.”
????️ El Hadji Malick Diouf contributed to the victory over Karvina with two goals in his debut.
In front of the camera #SlaviaTV then he talked about the spontaneous celebration with the coach, Tijani’s great pass and the first month in Slavia. And his assistant also came in front of the camera. ????
Follow ????
— SK Slavia Prague (@slaviaofficial) February 19, 2024
