Berkovc’s autumn: shooters don’t like training and a blow to the head
“It warmed me a lot when I was praised by a coach who doesn’t really know me. He probably talks about the beginning of the competition, when I held it a few times, “says the modest 32-year security behind Zbrojovka after the autumn part of the second league.
How can a break from the position of a goalkeeper be used?
Most of all, I need to rest as much as possible. I read the statement that the second league does not have such a level as the first, but in my opinion this is not entirely true. It has its own pace and from the position of a goalkeeper it is in some respects harder than some matches in the first league. You stand there, the boys play upstairs and I watch. But then some bullets come and I have to catch it. So I have to strain my concentration. So the rest will be mainly mental for me.
After all, don’t you ever get bored in the second league goal of the competition hegemon?
Before the season, we talked about it with goalkeeping coach Martin Doležal that the shots won’t be much, especially compared to the first league. But then we played the first few matches and it flew at me from left to right. It is really not possible to rest or get bored in the goal. He would lose concentration right away, so it would punish him quickly.
Isn’t the National League more challenging to play your feet, aren’t you more of a game maker?
I don’t notice the difference that much, but it’s clear that when the team upstairs plays, I’ll dig more. But it depends on the style of play. The runs behind the ball are probably the same, I just have to watch the right position and possibly react quickly to manage it.
A moment from the second league duel Líšeň (in white) – Zbrojovka Brno
When you talk about running out of the goal, I immediately remember your collision with Jan Hlavica in the match with Vyškov, do you still remember?
I only saw it once. When we had dinner at the end of the season, Honza and I both went out and it was probably enough for me. We poured our wine, looked at it, and that closed it for me.
Wasn’t it for harder alcohol?
No, the wound was hard, you’re right. (laughter) We looked at it, said what happened there, and we’re fine with that.
Did it gnaw at you when you needed to run out of the goal when you returned?
Probably not. Some runs then came and in the heat of the game to think about what had happened before, there was no time.
You considered catching in a helmet following the example of Petr Čech. But in the end, you don’t wear it, why?
I bought one, then sent me a helmet just for me to try, but it didn’t suit me at all. It’s probably a habit, but when I catch my whole life without a helmet and suddenly at the age of 32 they tell me to catch with her, it’s just not easy. Spatial perception is so more normal without it, the helmet is something extra that disturbs me. Although, if it’s cold, maybe I’ll pull it out. (laughter)
Were you satisfied with the game of Zbrojovka in the fall?
The beginning was up and down, it wasn’t quite that, then we won something, albeit for a goal. I have to slide in front of my opponent, they were perfectly prepared for us. It wasn’t entirely smooth, but a few such victories are enough to tune in. You still can’t win 4-0. It was probably not always a peek, but we managed it with the most important thing, three points.
Was the ability to decide at the end of the main team match weapons?
It’s a big advantage. When that doesn’t work, the match is decided at the end, and whoever has more will wins. Technical skills go aside and it turns out if it goes well, and we have perhaps shown this often and well, even though the game may not have been as we imagined.
![](https://1gr.cz/fotky/idnes/21/113/vidw/IPE8f9595_161307_2556756_1.jpg)
FC Zbrojovky Brno and MFK Chrudimi during the Fortuna National League football match
The team then goes “to morality”. Does this also apply to goalkeepers?
Probably yes. I definitely went to morale after that injury. I was wondering if I should come back or cut it off, but I’m just still having fun. I took a break, then returned when I left for Dukla. I wanted to start back there, and we lost there. That was a sharp direct for me. Then there was a representative break, again the rhythm broke and until the end of autumn it was not as fluid as I imagined. It was difficult to get back into that routine.
What should Zbrojovka do during the break? Is it time to prepare for the first league this winter?
It is not easy. If two or three, maybe five players come, then probably yes. But I would not want or recommend very huge interventions.
But don’t some contributions need more significant reinforcement?
Certainly someone will come, the question is who will want to go to Brno. I know this from Karviná, where to bring someone is no fun. I hear the same about Brno, but I don’t understand much, it’s always a nice city and it’s a bit everywhere. But there is probably a problem with that when it comes to it.
You came to Zbrojovka as a savior, but unfortunately it didn’t work out. How does the role of the savior change back to the role of a tug?
It is still the same. It was bad then, I didn’t work to save Zbrojovka, because I caught the match with Opava and I was injured for a month. A month’s break after returning from Lithuania caught up with me and punished me. But it won’t pull me up, I have to pull the boys up there.
![](https://1gr.cz/fotky/idnes/21/093/vidw/ROU8e50d5_brno.jpg)
The joy of Brno footballers.
Are you saying that you have less work in matches, do I at least eat it Jakub Řezníček in training?
He is so playful. He still wants to score goals, even though we’re just doing some exercise. Goalkeepers can do this nicely, so it’s our fun to each other. Even in training, he has a move to the end and knows exactly what he wants to do. Then he realizes it and he really sends it to me there. But the main thing is that it applies the same in matches.
Is Zbrojovka the biggest cracker, or are there others who can catch you on a regular basis?
There are more disgusting shooters. (laughter) You have Regensburg, Kuba Přichystal now has a form like thunder and maybe Adam Fousek, he is a disgusting left-hander.
Do you really know so much in football that a left-hander runs against you?
I definitely have it that way. They are quite illegible to me, because I don’t have a problem predicting their movement and projectile.
I don’t know if I can write this.
No, it’s probably not a good idea, the coach will find you. (laughter) But lefties are just different.