With Nekušej’s goal, Vasil Kušej created a five-star mood in Eden. In the tenth minute, he pushed past Barcelona captain Frenkie de Jong at the back post and celebrated the goal of his life with his boot off. He gave Slavia a shocking 1:0 lead. “The stadium suddenly started screaming, I didn’t know what to do. It was an incredible euphoria,” he gushed. The joy of his first goal in the Champions League was thwarted by a 2:4 defeat.
Vasil, life hit?
“I think so. I will remember it forever, I will write it in my head. An extremely valuable goal for me, I am very grateful for it. I don’t even know what else to say.”
Do you even know what you used to put the ball in the net?
“Not at all. I’m mainly glad that I somehow pushed it there, and we started the game off great. I helped kick off the game so that it looked like something from our side. I’m happy for that.”
What did your teammates say to you?
“They congratulated me. Before the match, Honza Boříl told me to score a goal. I also immediately ran to him to celebrate with him. I can now say, just like him, that I scored a goal for Barcelona.”
What was going through your head after the goal?
“The stadium suddenly started screaming, I didn’t know what to do at all. It was an incredible euphoria. It seemed to me that we played really well after that goal. The weather could have played into our hands, that’s why we stepped on it from the beginning. It’s a shame that we didn’t make it to a better end.”
Did you have a problem with your boot after the goal?
“De Jong stepped on my ankle and took it off. When I ran out of the gate, it fell off me. I didn’t want to put it on at that moment, I was just going to delay the celebration.” (laughs)
When you score a goal, artistic marks are high. It wasn’t like that now. You beat De Jong at the back post.
“From the start I knew he was defending me. I made a move on him to the front, then he pushed him a bit. I saw the ball fly towards us. I had a feeling I would be there first. It worked out. I’m glad I was in the fight. I had the task of closing the back post, which I did.”
You hit in the general, now also in the Champions League. Will this help you in the spring?
“I scored the first goal in the Champions League, it can relax my legs. But the performance of the team is more important. We presented ourselves well, it will be a springboard for us into the league season and towards the title.”
What decided the match with Barcelona?
“Two quick goals to make it 2:3 and 2:4. We held the game, but then two goals like that were scored… A team like Barcelona won’t let you into anything after that. It’s a big shame. And so is the football school.”
How about Fermín and Olmo’s fantastic endings?
“They are top players, it’s Barcelona. It’s not for nothing that they play there. They hit it beautifully. We were unlucky that they scored like that today. You can’t do anything about it.”
Weren’t they a bit “Kušej” goals?
(laughs) “I don’t score goals like that. I don’t shoot a lot behind the goal. But someday I would like to learn.”
Finally a quality performance by Slavia in the LM. Who stood up against Barcelona? And was Staněk wrong?
Slavia – Barcelona 2:4. Crossbow, own goal and hope for a sensation. Then the giant went on a rampage
