Sparta’s Repik slams journalists as too negative after Olomouc game

Sparta hockey forward Repik accused journalists of excessive negativity after the round 14 match against Olomouc. Asked whether the team had been too passive while protecting its lead, he replied: “You’re too negative toward us!” Sparta led in the 58th minute but ended up with only two points.

A pause in points and two points instead of three

Repik admitted that he wants to score and collect points, but his priority is to help the team. What annoyed him most was that in earlier games Sparta barely held the puck in the attacking zone and created almost no chances: without that, goals do not come. Against Olomouc it was a little better, he believes.

Although Sparta played at home against the team at the bottom of the table, it was, according to Repik, its second game in two days, a tough and draining one. The team is glad to have two points, but should have taken three: at the end of the third period it needed to play smarter and hold on to its advantage. Olomouc, he added, fought hard.

After a tense game in Liberec

Coach Patrik Augusta was very unhappy with the team’s performance on Friday in Liberec. Repik said there was a conversation in the dressing room after the game, since the team had not played at its best. Before the current match the players were shown video and tried to fix the mistakes. The coaches changed the lineup before the game and shuffled the forward lines, but Repik does not know whether he noticed an effect: some of the changes stayed the same, and the team has to earn the result and play a little better.

He hopes Sparta will do well in the games before the international break, after which the team will get a little rest and continue its preparation. Sparta is now seventh and only three points behind fourth-placed Motor. Repik called that a great stroke of luck, but noted that climbing the table takes a winning streak: one win and two defeats will not help.

Record attendance

The game against Olomouc at the O2 Arena drew 15,939 spectators, a record for the current season. According to Repik, despite the not-so-successful home games, fans keep coming and supporting the team. He promised to try to be even better.

Around Prague, based on reporting by sport.cz