How do they predict the result of the match Sparta Prague vs. Viking leading European servers?
Slavia Prague is in for a very unconventional match. They will step on artificial grass for the first time in European cups, and other specifics await them. However, coach Jindřich Trpišovský advises that the players have to deal with it.
Artificial grass is a nightmare for many players. Knees, joints, bones are destroyed on it, so elite players practically do not look at it. Therefore, when he then faces a team that plays regularly on a hard surface, it can mean trouble.
Trpišovský stated that he did not want to risk injury to players because of the artificial grass, which is why Slavia did not even train on it in Prague. At the same time, with regard to the surface, he will save players after serious health problems, which is why Petr Ševčík did not even fly to Gibraltar and Lukáš Provod may not start.
However, a trip to Gibraltar is very specific. Practically nothing works as it should.
“Everything has been different here since arriving. There is a specific environment. Another field awaits us, for the first time in European cups we will play on artificial grass.
There are more of those things here, for example the power went out for the whole day. Compared to the usual outings, there is not a single standard thing here. It’s all a bit different, but that’s why it’s good that we arrived a day early to prepare, to give the best possible performance.” stated in an interview for club website Trpišovsky.
However, the balls are also different, St. Joseph’s plays matches with Miter balloons.
“They are specific in that we do not meet them in the Czech Republic, it will probably be a premiere. They are Miter balls that are used a lot in England, mainly in the lower leagues. They used to be played in the English league and Blšany played with them. I don’t know how these are, but those balls floated a lot in the past, they were harder. It was said that they were made especially for English football and for headers.” adds Trpišovský.
Although so far it looks like a pleasant trip to a nice destination combined with a simple friendly match, it is definitely not. Slavia faces a tough competitive match for a place in the Conference League and must not underestimate anything.
“If there was a volcano or Martians here, we still have to play the same way,” Trpišovský incites his charges.
Source: SK Slavia Prague