Kovač after Pardubice loss: Viktoria Plzeň players fell short

Viktoria Plzeň coach Radoslav Kovač made no secret of his irritation after the match against Pardubice: he called the game, especially the first half, the biggest disappointment of his time at the club and accused some of the players of lacking character.

“We slept through the first half”

Is it even worth assessing the game, especially the first half? “Yes. It is the biggest disappointment I have been through here. Some players have more talent, some less, but it is all about how much heart they put in, what their attitude is toward the club and toward themselves, so that they can grow. The first half was about commitment, and we slept through it. Look at the first goal: Patrik Hrošovský runs out and nobody follows him. They only play with the ball, and you can’t win like that. I picked the lineup and I am responsible for it,” Kovač said.

Describing what happened after the match, he said: “We had a talk in the dressing room, but it keeps going in circles, every three days. Matěj Vydra is a few days after surgery, he has three training sessions behind him, and he goes out and gives everything. Only a few players show the character we need. That is why we are where we are. It upsets me terribly. I appreciate being here and I want to help Plzeň, but it isn’t working. I am not afraid of the work, but the players get excellent service from everyone, and it hurts me that they are unable to do something extra.”

Why the team could not withstand the pressure

Viktoria began the second half by pulling a goal back and applying pressure that did not last. “Confidence is not at the level where it should be. Here you have to show heart and go break up the game. Then everything else fades into the background. I don’t see a desire to do something extra for the club. Pardubice sat back, they have fast players and a quality transition. We had problems with that two or three times. There is a lot of work to do, and we have training tomorrow. We must pull ourselves together, show each other what’s what, and move on. I have plenty of energy and enthusiasm. I hate losing. Today we truly believed we would manage it. Nobody else will help us, only ourselves. I believe that next time we will pick those who will go into battle without sparing themselves.”

Will it be hard to choose the squad? “Against Pardubice, we also believed that the starting players would prove they deserve to be here and ask for more opportunities. It’s upsetting that ten of us are chasing the ball, and the guys think that’s it. But you have to press the ball. Some play only with the ball, and that doesn’t work. You have to work for the team. We have been talking about this for a long time. I have been at the club for two months and I have never seen a team that switches off like this. It may be seven players. In one situation everything is fine, and then they stop. It’s madness. This is the coaching staff’s job. The character has to change.”

Who is missing in defense

Is a player like David Krčík, who moved to Pardubice, missing at the back? “For me that is an unnecessary question. That is what we decided. We have Pališčák or Vavra, and Prebsl is playing very well. David is at Pardubice, and he played a good game against us. I congratulate our opponent on the three points and I am disappointed in ourselves. As for what happened, I won’t analyze it,” Kovač said.

Around Prague, based on reporting by sport.cz