He does not appear in front of the cameras very often (the exception was the interview before the match with Aberdeen), he arrives at the press conference once or twice a year. That’s why every performance by Rosický is literally a gift for Sparta fans.
And since there is more time now than during the season, he talked.
In an interview with the Sparta Forever website, he was unusually open.
“We deal with the contracts with Petr Hrdlička (member of the board, lawyer and guarantor of transfers), but I am responsible for that. Tomáš Sivok (sports manager) is in Strahov every day, I am in Letná, we mix and meet,” said Rosický, who was in the spring – that is, at the end of last season – hospitalized due to heart problems in the hospital.
Many questions were directed at reinforcements. During the summer period, they did not welcome many interesting faces to Letná.
The situation around Milly will be addressed
Rosický did not budge and tried to explain everything. He started By Kevin Prince Millaa discovery that came to Sparta after a short stint in Dukla, where he impressed, for example, in a match against Slavia. “After the departure of Olatunji, coach Brian Priske wanted another physical attacker. I don’t want to say an addition, but a typologically different player than Rrahmani or Kuchta. We went for physical parameters, for a player with whom we will be able to work and develop him further. And I still think that will happen. In the long term, I believe that Milla will improve and be important for Sparta,” he declared.
The 22-year-old Cameroonian forward, who grew up in Belgium and came to the Czech Republic via Austria, played twelve competitive matches in the red shirt (with a balance of 426 minutes and 2 goals).
“There were parameters for why we took him,” Rosický looked back, after which he nodded that there was confusion around Milla. “Given what he played, we expected more, or we didn’t expect it, we can argue about that. But the important thing is that he got chances and didn’t give. For example, the match with Raków – he started at the base, had a great chance, and then went down. We will decide how to work with him further – if we keep him here or send him on loan to play,” stated the 45-year-old official, who acts as a director at Sparta exactly seven years.
Hollý was very unlucky to get injured
246 starts for Arsenal, 189 games for Dortmund. English Cup, German title… Footballer of the year, three times. A list of the successes achieved by the Sparta student as a player would take up a very long article.
However, he was also often plagued by one health problem after another.
Perhaps that is also why Rosický can empathize with the situation Dominik Hollé. The Slovak midfielder came to Letná in the summer from Jablonec. After a small Euro. Much more was expected of him than four games (including two as a reserve).
“Unfortunately, he was very unlucky with an injury. He came and got injured already in training. When he got back, he played in the cup, then he got injured again and now three weeks ago he broke his elbow again. He bumped into something in training…” one of Sparta’s bosses told the address of the 22-year-old reinforcement.
Quality is there, motivation sometimes not
Sparta experienced a contradictory opening part of the season. She overcame the pitfalls of the preliminary rounds and made it to the main stage in the Conference League. She was subsequently successful (four wins, one draw, one loss) and secured direct progress to the round of 16. However, in the league, Letenský are second with a loss of seven points to Slavia. In some matches, the performance of Priske’s team was downright dismal.
Reasons for uneven performance? Rosicky has an explanation. And it’s not very pleasant.
“We are not talking about the quality of the team – it is there. Everyone says that the team is good and it will move on… But then the slaps come: you go to Slovácko, where you don’t create a chance, you get in Karviná, where you lose deservedly, then the two explosions at home: Teplice and Pardubice. Which is unacceptable!” he said
By the way, he also talked about the derby as part of the balancing act. With the fact that Sparta had to beat Slavia (the match ended in a 1:1 draw).
And now the problem: “One of the most important points in a footballer’s life is long-term motivation. And that’s why the best are the best – not only because they are the best footballers, but because they have long-term motivation and the desire to win and be the best. That motivation can be different – to improve, learn, money, trophies. Here, some guys don’t have long-term motivation at the level that a big club needs. And that became clear to us,” said Rosický.
Players, coaches and most of the staff are now on summer break. In January, coach Priske’s wards will return to training, and on January 12 they will travel to Spain. The league will start at the end of January (Sparta plays on January 31st at Dukla).
