The Slovak league is unnecessarily underestimated
yesterday at 15:50
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After 17 years, he returned to the Slovak lawns and aroused great enthusiasm. In August, Martin Škrtel wrote for one season in Trnava, which he has been a fan of since childhood.
What has it been like for almost two decades in Russia, England and Turkey? Have he ever had problems with the clubs he played for? In addition to Trnava’s offer, he also received from other leagues and how did he feel before coming to Spartak’s locker room? All this was revealed by Martin Škrtel in podcaste of Boris Valábik and Marián Gáborík.
The Turkish league is perceived as one of the weaker ones, where footballers go to earn some more money at the end of their careers, but our former national team captain does not perceive it that way.
“On the football side, it’s hard to compare with England, but it wasn’t what I expected. The league had its quality and is improving every year, because foreign players come and bring. My family and I were happy in Turkey and the arrival in Slovakia probably came back within a week of my wife, who came back a month later. “
Although Martin Škrtel was satisfied with his family, I admit that there were still some problems. “They have money, but the mentality is that if you don’t win, why do you want money? You don’t deserve a paycheck (laughs). But I must say that in the five years I was supposed to get the money, I always got it. Contracts are bound and controlled by both UEFA and FIFA. There is always a delay, but in the end they have to pay the money. “
A thirty-six-year-old native from Handlová even happened that she hadn’t seen the paycheck for 6-7 months, but she says she never went into conflict with the club. Even if he had a right to do so and he knew he would get the money one day.
“Finance is, it’s hard to get it from them. Probably in this case the conditions were worse than in Russia. I was there for four years and I never had any problems, it was always sometimes and we don’t even have to talk about it in England.
When I came to Fenerbahce, the first two months were fine, they also gave something extra that I did not expect. But then there was always a slip for some 2-3 months. Players have contracts that if they do not receive a three-month salary, they can take notice, but the owners have always adhered to ten time limits and sent at least one paycheck to delay it. “
Škrtel also explains the slippage with payouts by their mentality, because everyone in Turkey has time for everything.
Photo gallery
Martin Škrtel and Spartak Trnava coach Michal Gašparík.
Source: TASR
MEXICO COULD BE THE PLACE OF TRNAVY
His performance in Basaksehire was prematurely terminated by a serious injury that disqualified him from playing for many months, which he was not used to and said that he was having a hard time coping mentally.
“I had plaster for two months and I was dependent on barrels and helping others. There were all sorts of thoughts by then, but then I thought that after so many years of spending football, it would be stupid for me to end up injured. So I gritted my teeth, even though it wasn’t easy, and I thought I’d give it a try and come back. “
Škrtel planned to return to Slovakia after the championship season with Basaksehir, but the attraction was the participation in the Champions League. And he knew it would almost certainly be his last chance to play in this prestigious competition. So he agreed with the club for another season, but he did not finish it due to injury.
The management of the Turkish club still wanted Škrtel to return to the right after his recovery, but he was already set to wear the Trnava jersey. “It drew me more and more home and what happened was probably a signal. It started when I once said that I was a fan of Trnava, which is true and everyone probably knows.
Trnava called me when I was still in Fenerbahka, but at that time I had to fight abroad. We stayed in touch and it took almost three years. My interest grew further. It culminated after I was injured, and I was surprised and pleased that their interest intensified, because they knew that if I was injured, I would be out for six months.
But I made it a clear condition that in the first place I have to get together and I need to know that I will be ready for top football. Only then will I be able to help the club. “
At Škrtel, they may have thought that he would end up where he started with big football – in AS Trenčín. However, the interest of his first team quickly vanished, but he did not admit that if he received an offer from both clubs, he should have something to think about.
“This made it easier for me in Trenčín and I was only set up for Trnava. But of course I would think about it, because I would be at home, but there is one big but. Trenčín plays on artificial grass, which is terrible. After the Achilles operation, the surgeon even told me that I should avoid artificial grass. “
But Trnava was not the only one who wanted a former representative in her staff. He also had offers from across the ocean: “I had the opportunity to go to Mexico, but I don’t know what specific club it was supposed to be. There was an agent who said he was the owner, who wanted to bring in such players and get the club to the forefront a bit. But I immediately refused, because I already wanted to go to Trnava. “
Photo gallery
Martin Škrtel.
Source: TASR
DON’T MATCH OUR LEAGUE
Many would think that a globetrotter like Škrtel would have no problem coming to the locker room of the Slovak team, but the opposite was true. Expectations played a big role in “breaking the knees” of even an experienced defender.
“I have to say that before the first match I was a little afraid of sending myself (laughter)because they expected to be big. Before coming to the cabin, I had respect, because after such a long time working in Slovakia again, it is still something else when I compare it with abroad or ‘repre’.
I am respectful and respectful, but it was probably mutual. For the first few days, we just chatted. They probably didn’t know what to expect from me, and neither did I. But I think it quickly fell apart and the guys saw that I was normal and didn’t come there to grind my ego on someone or something. “
And what does it say about the quality of our league, which does not have the best reputation? “The Slovak League is unnecessarily underestimated. I’ve listened from every side how I can play I don’t know how many years before I have no level, but I played a few matches and everyone had quality, their level and pace. Already in the first trainings I completed, I saw that it would not be easy.
What is most lacking here, in my opinion, is the atmosphere in the stadiums. If it was like in Dunajská Streda, where there were about 8,000 people, then the view of football or the quality of the match is completely different. In fact, I have to say that our league has quality and is ideal for young players. When I grow up to take 2-3 years in 3 years, it’s a good springboard so they can go somewhere abroad. “
As a fan of Atlética Paranaense, he escaped the security service: