For the first time since 2016, Sparta footballers have taken over the Key from Prague
Updates: 10/11/2021 4:40 PM
Released: 11.10.2021, 16:40
Prague – At the Old Town Hall today, Sparta footballers received the Key from Prague from Mayor Zdeněk Hřib for winning the league derby over Slavia 1: 0 at the beginning of October. The Letna team defeated their city rival and defending champion after 14 competitive matches for the first time since March 2016. Sparta in Brožík Hall was represented by CEO František Čupr, Deputy Chairman of the Board Dušan Svoboda, coach Pavel Vrba and players Bořek Dočkal, Filip Panák and Michal Sáček.
“It’s a nice tradition that has been introduced. It’s part of it. It’s a diversification. It’s a nice bonus to come here and symbolic to take the key and feel like the rulers of the city at the moment,” Captain Dočkal told reporters.
“It’s more of an interest in Prague. There are two teams fighting for the key twice a year. We managed to beat Slavia after a long time. I didn’t even know how long it took us to do it. It’s for our commitment not to have it this long again and to start a slightly different series, “said Vrba, 55, who defeated Slavia as a Spartan coach for the first time in a third competitive duel.
After winning 1-0, Sparta also ended Slavia’s league invincibility, which lasted 54 matches, and took second place ahead of her. He loses four bodies to the head of Pilsen. The Slavists have a well-delayed match with Olomouc.
“Winning a derby after a long time was a relief. It’s not just about handing over the keys. It’s about how it will help us mentally in the next matches, how it helped us in the table. We took the body of our biggest competitor in the league. From different angles “It was a very important match for us. We are glad that it finally worked out after years,” said Dočkal, 33,.
According to him, the Letna team wins over an age-old opponent they celebrated “decently”. “We could afford it because we got time off from the coach. We enjoyed it, it went reasonably and within limits. It was nice. If such a match is successful, it is part of us to enjoy it and celebrate it together,” he said. Slavic offspring.
On the contrary, Vrba went to his native Přerov. “I rested there. I didn’t have anything with the players. I went to Moravia. I had a good wine with my wife. I can’t resist it. I needed to rest, it was very difficult. Now we have a little calmer. A difficult series awaits us. . ” we want to prepare as best we can to continue the results we have now, “remarked the former coach of Pilsen or the Czech national team.