Morávek on Slavia, Pilsen & Czech Players Abroad

Although neither of the two Czech cup representatives who were in action this week did not win, Livesport Zpráv expert Jan Morávek (35) had a good impression of the performances of Slavia and Pilsen. “Prague did a good job. They were able to make the match uncomfortable for Barcelona (2:4). I think they were at the limit of their abilities,” says the scout of Augsburg in the Bundesliga. He also speaks highly of Viktoria, who drew 1:1 at home with Porto. “It’s unbelievable how they can prepare in Europe,” he adds.

Was it Slavia’s best match in the Champions League?

“I see it in the same way as most fans. I think that Slavia fulfilled what they promised. They entered the match actively from the beginning and after the match they could say that they really tormented Barcelona, because the visitors had passages where it must have been uncomfortable for them. Slavia presented a good performance. The fact that they failed and lost in the end is already at this level about the details, which are key.”

Can you be specific?

“In such matches, you need a TOP performance from all the players on the pitch to be able to think about points. This also includes the performance of the goalkeeper, who has to add something extra. I don’t want to say that Jindřich Staněk lost it, but at least for the first goal, when it slipped on the front post, he didn’t have a clear conscience. On the other hand, he also had great saves, which distinguished him.”

So, do you think it was possible to keep up with Barcelona for longer?

“If Slavia had kept the result 1-0 and there had been no mistake, I believe it could have been interesting, because the Spaniards would have been nervous. Moreover, they were not at all sure in the direction of defense. They are unstable in this respect. Of course, going forward we are talking about a different level of players. They are incredible there and have proven their quality.”

Was it a performance that Slavia should be inspired by in other European matches?

“Definitely. It was her best game in the Champions League against tough opponents. If she decides to change something based on this game, it will definitely be a good decision.”

Barcelona had a lower xG value this season only against PSG, Real Madrid, Newcastle and Chelsea. This is also a decent calling card of the red and white…

“It surprised me. That’s certainly an interesting thing. Overall, Slavia wasn’t scary at all in the statistics. For example, winning balls – in the attacking third, Slavia had fourteen wins and Barcelona nine. They didn’t lag behind in the duels either. In addition, they had a pass success rate of 76% or less fouls at home. It was an interesting confrontation. While we were used to it being different under pressure, this time it was a pleasant refreshment.”

The Praguers also managed to keep possession at a high level, which does not necessarily reflect the result, right?

“It doesn’t have to, but it’s important that the boys held the ball. They had passages when they were able to relax and not be constantly under pressure from a strong team that thrives on holding the ball and gradually pulls it back. In this way, Slavia didn’t allow them to make big maneuvers, they didn’t let themselves be shamefully tapped out. That’s also a good indicator.”

Who did you like from the individuals?

“David Moses is definitely attracting the attention of European scouts, for whom next spring can be catapulting, because if he continues his good performances and gets a hold of the midfield, I believe that there will be interest in him in the TOP leagues. I would definitely also mention the defender Štěpán Chaloupek, who is another candidate for a summer transfer for me. But I liked Lukáš Provod the most, who sacrificed himself incredibly for the team. How much he did… Moreover, he was capable hold the balloon and create.”

He could also think about foreign engagements, you see?

“To this day, I regret that he didn’t take the riskier step out and go try it out, because there was certainly interest in him. I think he would definitely make it. He’s an excellent footballer who always impresses you with the intensity and quality of his play.”

On the other hand, didn’t Tomáš Chorý seem a little drowned in this match?

“In my opinion, he is the type of striker who needs a good service. When he gets it, he usually knows how to deal with it. But at this level, it is difficult for him to establish himself. In the Czech league, it is easier for him, because it is easier for Slavists to relax and they can supply him with centers. In the Champions League, it is much more difficult. I do not want to claim that Chorý is not a modern striker, because at least in our league, he is unpleasant for many defenses and it works for Slavia. So I don’t want him to blame that he didn’t look good against Barcelona. Slavia were at their limit in terms of creativity and creating chances.”

The second Czech cup representative this week was Pilsen, which hosted Porto. How do you feel about the 1:1 draw after the overall action in the match?

“The point is absolutely brilliant. Viktoria got a bad red for me and played for a long time in ten against a strong opponent, but obviously the conditions here did not suit him at all. For example, Rodrigo Moira, who is a huge talent of Porto, is a typical example of a player who is absolutely not suited to the way of Czech football. I saw him play for the second time in a short time, before it was for the Portuguese under-21 national team, and he disappointed me every time. At the same time, he is a player whose the value should be somewhere around 60 million euros.”

However, Viktoria once again showed that she can do it in cups. That’s standard now, isn’t it?

“Hats off to the way she prepares for big teams and looks good against them. She can convert points, which is hugely valuable. Also, if we look at her line-up, how she stuck the defense, she lost Rafio Durosinmi, so it’s unbelievable that she could even win. I absolutely did not believe them when I looked at the line-up and they led me astray. She deserves a lot of praise. Hopefully there will be no injury to Christophe Kabong nothing serious when he finally returned to form after a long break.”

What do you think about the performance of goalkeeper Florian Wiegele?

“It shows that it was the right choice. He gave a great performance again, he kept the team. I thought he was able to throw the bailiff a bit even with that penalty. He looks very good.”

Who would have said that a few months ago…

“Pilsen took a huge risk. He missed a few games at the beginning of the season. There was a minor mistake. And they still decided to send an experienced goalkeeper away and bet on Wiegele. It could have come back like a boomerang, but so far it hasn’t. Wiegele will continue to be under scrutiny, his mistakes will be expected, but the way he handled Porto was something big. Viktoria could rely on him, which is key in the cups.”

Lukáš Červ also played a great match, who was also praised by Martin Hyský. Do you think he has claimed a place in the squad for the play-off against Ireland?

“He is a nice prototype of a good Czech footballer who also has the potential to play abroad. I can imagine him in a better league and I wouldn’t be surprised if he took a step out after the season. I can imagine him in a worse Bundesliga club. He would deserve it, because in addition to his selfless performances, you can also sense leadership. I think it must be painful for Slavia to see what kind of player he has become. He would be a good fit for them.”

Baráž won’t miss him under Miroslav Koubek…

“I count on him. We just have to realize what we can expect from him. He is not the type of midfielder who will amaze with his creativity and final solution. Pilsen had Lukáš Kalvach next to him, now Patrik Hrošovský will be there. But we give him a different typology in the national team, he plays next to Tomáš Souček, which does not go together.”

Does he need a more technical footballer?

“Definitely. A player like Michal Baran, who will take over the passing game and Cerv will help him by being everywhere, it goes around. They will help each other, because Cerv is very good at that.”

Everyone would want to play with a footballer like that, right?

“I would have stepped up next to him right away, because I was more of an introvert who liked technical football. And I preferred to have someone standing next to me who could properly drive the players crazy, convey other emotions. I admire such guys. They are the engine of the team. Today, such things are not talked about much in football, other qualities are looked for, but we should not forget how important it is to have players like Červ in the team. In my eyes, they are huge important.”

The article was originally published for Livesport Zprávy.