Gibraltar (From our correspondent) – Olomouc coach Tomáš Janotka and defender Matěj Hadaš talked about this with journalists before Wednesday’s training session at Gibraltar’s small multifunctional stadium Europa Point with an artificial surface, where the match is played.
“It’s strange that any European competition can be played on that surface at all, when we realize how consistent UEFA can be with the various things that the organizers have to ensure,” the Olomouc captain shook his head. “It’s a distinct advantage for the home team. You won’t hear excuses on this topic here. We’re grateful to be able to play the Conference League, we’re a part of it and we’d play it even if it was on the cinder block,” he continued immediately.
Hadaš does not consider the artificial surface to be a problem. “We trained on it in Olomouc. It won’t be a reason for us to complain. The worst thing is when you start there after the winter training, it hurts my knees personally. But once you get used to it, it’s fine,” he said.
Just the right adaptation, as Janotka pointed out, is key. “The impact on the attachments is greater. Therefore, you need to get used to a different movement. On the other hand, when the artificial surface is wet, it is ideal for a quick combination game. The ball rides on it,” he explained.
He did not adapt the assembly to the artificial surface. “Perhaps only with one player. But I don’t want to reveal the cards. We mainly emphasized the sports side, cooperation. The line-up has been fitting us recently,” he said.
The Hanáci accept the role of favorite, which everyone attributes to his team. However, both Hadaš and Janotka emphatically rejected the comparison of Lincoln, whose lineup includes, for example, a bachelor or a policeman, to Nový Sad, a team from the fourth league that eliminated Sigma in the MOL Cup.
“He is definitely not a big outsider. He scored four points in the Conference League and that says it all. It will certainly be difficult. However, we are well prepared and we will want to build on the previous results in this competition. Otherwise, I did not think much about them. But they will certainly go into it as fully, as hard as Nové Sady,” Hadaš said.
According to the coach from Olomouc, Lincoln deviates from the standard of the local league. “He has quality. We were convinced of that when we loaded him. The whole republic lives by the fact that we go for easy points. However, they are no clumsiers. And above all, there is a huge difference between their game at home and away. Lech Poznaň is a memento for us. He also felt like a favorite and fell here. So there is no reason to underestimate anything,” stated Janotka.
He expects English football with Spanish elements from his opponent. “Without the ball, they play strongly to the body, they are aggressive, unpleasant. In the forward direction, they use technical qualities. They are like the Spaniards, such toys,” he described.
Photo: Luděk Peřina, CTK
Ahmad Ghali (left) will be missed by the Hanaks.
He will have to do without several injured players right away. The long-term injured Mohamed Jásir, Ahmad Ghali, whose groin is bothering him, and Matěj Mikulenka, who last time with Sparta had to alternate due to muscle problems, will not be available.
On the other hand, gunner Vašulín returns to him. “He is hugely important for us, like any player, who scores points. Especially in the absence of Ghali, who started scoring them too,” added Janotka.
