Pardubice Coach Hyský: "The Pressure Is Enormous, But This Team Has Character"

Pardubice head coach Martin Hyský said he is under enormous pressure after his side squandered a 3:0 lead, later fell behind 4:5, and ultimately settled for a 5:5 draw with Teplice. According to the coach, the mood in the dressing room afterwards was extremely negative, and he takes primary responsibility for the result himself.

A Phenomenal Start Undone by Defensive Collapse

Hyský described the opening of the match as "fantastic," with his team scoring three brilliant goals inside the first ten minutes and thoroughly demoralising their opponents. However, he admitted that what followed defensively "was not worthy of football at this level." His players repeatedly lost possession and opted for overly complicated build-up play through the middle instead of using the width of the pitch, allowing Teplice to turn the match around.

The coach noted that this is not the first time such a scenario has played out — a similar pattern occurred in the season's opening round against Liberec, which ended in a 1:3 defeat, when the opponents were again given far too much space in defence.

A Red Card — and the Team's Character

Hyský also addressed the sending-off of David Krčík, saying he does not condone the player's action, which punished not just himself but the entire team, leaving them in an even tougher position as Teplice ramped up the pressure and pushed hard with a flurry of corners. Nevertheless, according to Hyský, the team managed to score again and prove they were capable of creating danger even while down to ten men.

Hyský stressed that the team's response after conceding to fall behind 4:5 was the right one and reflects the character of the squad: "I don't think a team lacking character or resilience would have coped with that kind of situation." He also praised the substitutes who came on and helped the team stay in the game, urging people to focus not only on the mistakes but also on the positives in the team's performance.

Around Prague, based on reporting by sport.cz