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Adrian Guľa considers the upcoming Latvian Cup final against FK Auda potentially his last match in charge of FC Riga, Šport.sk reported.
The Slovakian manager’s contract expires at the end of November, and while talks are ongoing for a short-term extension, his future remains uncertain.
Guľa, who joined Riga in January last year, has achieved remarkable success with the club. He led them to a league title, a Super Cup triumph, and qualification for the UEFA Conference League phase. With the team after three draws and still in contention for a spot in the spring playoffs, the stakes are high for his final weeks in charge.
His immediate future is tied to negotiations with the club. “We are negotiating with the club about the possibility of a short-term contract extension, but we have not yet reached a final result,” Guľa told Šport.sk.
“We are back in the training process. The league is over, ahead of us is the cup final, plus a Conference League match in Vilnius against Žalgiris, and in December are the last two matches in the league phase, while we still live the chance of reaching the playoffs.”
The club has presented him with an offer to cover the two December matches, as his current deal officially expires on November 30. This leaves a cloud over his availability for upcoming fixtures against Atalanta and Borac Banja Luka in the Conference League.
Manager’s Principled Stand on Future
Despite the potential for a European campaign and a cup final, Guľa is considering departing. When asked if he would not extend his contract even for a month to be present for the European climax, he explained his principled stance.
“It’s hard to explain. I live here every single day, I have experienced something here and I have worked something here. I have already rejected two offers just because I am loyal to the club and the players,” Guľa said.
“I have to and want to solve my future. The club has not resolved it yet. Therefore, I say that in football everything is open, and it is possible that it will be resolved by my club, me, or another club. That’s why I am cautious.”
He emphasized that his decision is not about avoiding the challenge of facing his former player, Nikola Krstović, who now plays for Atalanta. “When the Conference League draw was made, I was looking forward to Nikola Krstovič, my former charge from Dunajská Streda, coming to Riga with Atalanta,” Guľa shared.
The manager’s long-term future at the club is not currently on the table. “A long-term contract with Riga is not on the table for now,” Guľa said.
“We are fighting for a cup and a place in the Conference League playoffs. The club presented to me that after a possible success, there is a possibility for a long-term contract. But as I have indicated, I am clear on this matter.”
Guēa Seeks Closer Proximity to Family
“I have been abroad for two and a half years, most of the time without my family. Contact is less frequent than we anticipated, and I have had enough of being separated,” Guľa explained.
“Two years here and a half year in Cyprus have led me to think about recharging my batteries and being somewhere closer. That’s how I perceive it. Besides, the competition has its limits. To be frank, Europe saved me to have the motivation to continue here. The domestic league does not have such credibility, although I respect that we won it last year because it is not easy. But it seems to be the maximum I can imagine without my family.”
In Latvia, it is always about what kind of performances they will show in Europe and for the national team. My players played very well in these serious matches, attracted the attention of bigger clubs, and that was our driving force.”
European Focus Cost the Domestic Title
While the team excelled in Europe, their domestic league campaign ended with a second-place finish, just missing out on retaining their title. Guľa believes the focus on the Conference League cost them points in the league.
“My opinion is yes,” Guľa said when asked if the European campaign was a reason for losing the title.
“We lost the most points after the biggest emotion, that is, after the triumph over FC Klasvík in the playoff for participation in the Conference League. Three days after that, we lost, as the pressure dropped from the players and we had to resort to player rotation, which had a negative impact on the results. We really wanted to ensure the club’s first-ever participation in a European competition group stage. Anyone who has played professionally can understand that. After the defeat came two draws, so those were three losses that we could no longer make up in the less competitive environment. In Latvia, there are two runaway clubs that rarely stumble against the others.”
The season ended with a controversial walkover in the final league match against rivals Rigas FS, a game Riga had prepared for but did not play. The club’s management decided not to participate.
“We were preparing for the match, we had video analysis and a training session, 24 hours before the kickoff we were ready to play. However, a decision came from the management and the information also reached us through social networks. That’s all I want to say about it,” Guľa recounted.
“The opponent had more points and won us in the long-standing competition. We won the title last year, and it would not please me if someone said that we got it one way or another. The truth is that our management was not happy for a long time with many things concerning our mutual matches, not just the refereeing, but the overall fair-play principle in the competition, to which our management pointed out in its statement. For me, for example, it was very important that after our tough European matches, when we helped the coefficient of the Latvian league, they did not accommodate our requests to postpone league matches even by one day. After our warnings, stronger reactions always came, and it led to this decision. Personally, however, I did not agree that the dissatisfaction led to refusing to play in the league celebration.”
When asked if the match would have been played if it were up to him, Guľa was clear: “Of course. We were prepared for it and wanted to win on the pitch.”
Guēa Considers Returning to Slovak Football
As his tenure with Riga approaches a potential conclusion, Guľa is focused on the immediate tasks. He is not ruling out a return to management in his native Slovakia, including with the national team.
“I am not against it,” Guľa replied when asked if he would be open to a role in the Nike Liga or with the Slovak national team. Currently, he is living in the present, committed to Riga until the end of November and aiming for a Conference League playoff spot if his contract is extended.
He also commented on the current state of Slovak football and the appointment of Vladimír Weiss Sr. as the national team manager. Weiss led the team to League B of the Nations League.
“Very well. The goal is fulfilled. I see many positive things not only from the point of view of promotion and performance in some matches, but also in terms of player rotation and chances for new players. A good decision was that the national team played in the east of the republic, which brought us new fans. In the dark and shadow of current problems, we can talk about one of the few bright moments in Slovak football,” Guľa said of Weiss’s start.
When asked if he is content from his position in Latvia that Weiss now holds a top role in Slovak football instead of him, Guľa offered a measured perspective.
“No, I don’t look at it personally now, nor did I then. I only thought about how I could help things and what it could bring to me. The status of national team manager, especially in your home country, is the most you can achieve. But I knew why I decided the way I did at that moment. I see it the same as many fans, Vladimír Weiss Sr. is a top coach, especially in turbulent waters. Let’s appreciate that we have such a coach available for Slovak football. It’s great that it worked out this way, because whoever took over the reins after Francesc Calzona would face a big challenge. It pleases me that the light into the current difficult times for Slovak football is brought by the players, coaches, and fans. Because Slovak football is about football players, coaches, and fans, that must be doubled. Without them, there would be no football,” Guľa concluded.
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