13/08/2024, Editorial Board
He had to miss the first match against Union SG due to a card penalty, he already enjoyed the 1:0 promotion victory in Brussels on the pitch. Tomáš Holeš was interviewed by journalists after the match.
How was the procedure born?
“He was beaten! The game was mainly about fighting, about staying strong at the back. We defended the lead, we gave a good, focused and mature performance defensively. We wanted to be a bit more active, but the opponent was good. I’m glad that we didn’t allow them anything up front, and we added a goal at the end. Great satisfaction.”
What was the most important aspect of the doubleheader?
“He decided the home game, the lead of two goals was comfortable. You can crawl, wait for breaks, play with the match a little. Outside, everything went our way, time was running out. And we did it.”
Are you pleased with your tactical maturity?
“We certainly appreciate it, we’re happy not to concede goals. We all defend well. The guys above are full of glasses, they also ran it great. We shut down dangerous players for them, which is what we wanted.”
Did you feel that you were in control of the match from the first minute?
“We started well, we held the ball, we had some set pieces, everything according to plan. I felt from the team that we are solid at the back. Even though the opponent was pushing us, I wasn’t worried about the result. I trusted us.”
How did you see the fights between Zafeiris and Puertas?
“He did great, Puertas had great things there, he is the main character of their team. Without it, they are half. Zafi guarded him, Prebslík too, so we didn’t let them into anything.”
Isn’t it a bit of a paradox with Christos? He came mainly for the offense.
“Maybe a little yes, but I’m glad he’s such a complex player. He’s defensive, he’s stubborn, such a little brat. It’s hard for opponents to get away from him. In home matches, when we have more of the ball, he shows a different quality.”
Does the presence of Tomáš Choré help you?
“Of course, we’re still getting used to him. I have to say that Choras played great, he scored two goals, he played great today too, he kept a lot of balls. I am very happy for him. That he is here, that he helps us so much. I think it will be even better when we get used to it more and can use it even more.”
What do you think of Václav Jurečka’s goal? A few seconds were enough for him to hit.
“I was happy, I was relieved, after his goal, the game was over. He has it in him, he is a marksman, he has a great choice of place. It’s a reward for how he worked. He played the second game, scored the second goal. That shows the tremendous quality he has.”
The last opponent will be Lille…
“I wanted Fenerbahce more, I wanted to meet coach Mourinho again. But unfortunately… It will be Lille, it will be very unpleasant, they have extremely fast players there. But now we will focus on the league, then when we deal with Lille.”