Schick explains exit from Czech national team: "We went there to regress, not to grow"

Bayer Leverkusen striker Patrik Schick has for the first time explained in detail why he walked away from the Czech national team, telling the To nemá kam podcast that the squad "took more than it gave" and that players tended to lose form after international duty rather than improve.

The 30-year-old forward ended his international career shortly after a disappointing World Cup for the Czechs. He said the decision didn't come suddenly after the last match — he had simply been worn down by years of the team failing to change. "Everyone kept talking about changes, but everything stayed the same. The World Cup was the cherry on top that convinced me I didn't want to continue," Schick admitted.

What went wrong at the World Cup

According to the striker, the main problem was an unprofessional approach to the tournament. "People got up early in the morning to go to the pub and support us, while we treated the whole championship carelessly," he said, adding that this applied not only to what happened on the pitch, but to everything surrounding the team.

Schick also compared the conditions for Czech national team players with what he's seen in the Bundesliga. He said his German teammates praised the hotels, pitches, recovery programs and overall organization — a stark contrast to what the Czechs had. "From the first day to the last, I felt this would end badly. It was tragic," the forward said.

Will Schick return under the new coach?

The appointment of Spaniard Santi Denia as national team head coach has once again raised the question of a possible Schick comeback. However, the forward admitted he hasn't yet spoken with the new manager — everything he knows about him comes from the media, even though Bayer's fitness coach has already worked with Denia and reportedly wanted to bring him along to the national team.

Despite the new coach's wish to talk with Schick, the meeting hasn't taken place yet. The player himself remains skeptical: "My decision is unlikely to change. Denia might bring a fresh face, but for me the national team took more than it gave. We went there to regress rather than grow to a world-class level."

As for his club career, Schick confirmed he had received a concrete offer to move to another club but decided to stay at Bayer at least for this season — mainly because of his family. He speaks with doubt about a possible return to Czech football, saying the chances of that happening are extremely slim.

Source: sport.cz