We will meet at the start of winter training. Were you looking forward to it?
(smiles) I enjoyed my time off, but three weeks was plenty for me. As you get older, it gets worse and worse and starts again. Now we will do a short preparation, we will go to the training camp and I am already looking forward to getting back to the league matches.
Are you comfortable with a shorter winter preparation?
I prefer it this way. The time off is not long, one does not lose that much fitness. After all, a footballer plays for matches, not for training.
How did you spend your break?
I was in Dubai for a week. But I’m not the type to just roll around. Every day I have to do something – I play padel, I go golfing.
What about Christmas?
I went home to the Netherlands to be with my family.
In the Czech Republic, holidays are associated with a lot of food. How is it with you?
We do not have such extensive traditions as in the Czech Republic. You won’t find potato salad here (laughs). We mostly eat rabbit and hot peaches.
Then you don’t even have to run around so much.
You are right. But I’m already looking forward to going to Turkey for the training camp, when we’ll be warm and play football normally.
The team was hit by significant departures of props. How did the cabin take it?
The guys that left were great. They helped us a lot, especially offensively. But we have to look ahead. That’s football – players come and go. Spring will be challenging and we definitely need to strengthen.
Photo: Profimedia.cz
Mick van Buren (right) in Hradec’s last pre-Christmas league match against Mladá Boleslav.
How do you rate autumn, which resembled a roller coaster?
It is true that we did not have a good start and lost a lot of points. The red cards, which we collected unnecessarily, were also signed. Over time, however, we got into better shape and the points started to add up. I think we need to improve mainly in finishing and creating chances.
And you personally? Are you satisfied after returning to the Czech Republic?
I’ve been away for a long time. I was already getting in shape and suddenly an injury came. But I was able to come back in a good mood and I hope to build on that in the spring. But I feel that I can be even better.
Competition came into the attack in the form of Marek Regži. How do you perceive him?
I don’t know him much yet, I’ve only seen him briefly. But I looked at the statistics and videos and it looks very good. He is a classic number nine, a tall player with a good finish. He is typologically different from me. But there must be competition, that’s right.
The difference between the Latvian and Czech leagues will probably not be small, right?
I think so too. I played in Denmark or Poland and the Czech league is different. There’s a lot of pressure. The space that Marko was given in Latvia, he will certainly not have here. That’s the reality. But the chance will come and he has to show on the pitch that he deserves it.
Does strong competition help you?
Certainly. It always pulled me forward. When the competition is not great, the player may think that he has a certain place and does not have to try as hard. I experienced a very strong competitive environment at Slavia, there were twenty-five of us and every year we played for the title. We want to be at the top with Hradec, so competition is needed.
In the Czech Republic, you visited more clubs and the fans liked you thanks to your Czech language. How hard was it to learn the language?
(smiles) Thank you very much, I’m trying. It is true that it is a challenging language. I want to be even better, but I have a problem with endings. I would like to find a teacher with whom I could continue to improve. After four years, I started to catch different words and speak on my own. I think the main thing is not to be ashamed. People appreciated it and then it went on its own. It was important for me to show that I respect your language and culture. That’s how it should be with foreigners.
Where did you have the most conversation?
Probably in České Budějovice, where there was a purely Czech cabin. I had to speak because most of the masseuses and other people in the club didn’t speak English. I shouldn’t have been afraid. Then everyone wondered when I came to Eden.
Was it also tempting to return to the Czech Republic because you got used to the environment?
I like it here very much, I take it here as a second home, but the main thing was football. I have been here for a long time and always felt good. Before returning, I spoke with coach Horejš and we said we would try it. I feel great in Hradec.
Does the Czech league suit you?
I would say yes. I am the type who runs a lot, plays intensely and hard. I am a team player, which I think is key in the Czech Republic.
Why?
I think you can find better individuals abroad. I remember when I transferred to Krakow and I watched their match with Olomouc. Individually, the Polish team was better, but Olomouc worked excellently as a team, ran more and deservedly won 2:0. In the Czech Republic, the teams are simply stronger as a whole.
The league is also very balanced. The proof is also your victory over Sparta.
(laughs) I enjoyed that. I can’t lie, I still have a piece of Slavia in me. The matches against Sparta and Pilsen are the most important for me.
Do you follow Slavia in the Champions League?
Yes, I’m trying. I am in contact with Lukáš Provod or the coaches Štěpán Kolář and Zdenek Houštecký. Sometimes we meet in Prague, where I live.
How is life in the capital?
I live close to the highway, so it’s not far to Hradec. When we have two-phase trainings, I stay in eastern Bohemia. Everything works excellently in the Czech Republic, it is safe here, the healthcare system is excellent. In short, Prague is one of the best places in Europe to live.
