He evaluated the loss with Teplice 0:2, but then he still took his word. “I would like to use this time, because I would like to correct the speculation that I am ending the season in Liberec,” announced Luboš Kozel.
So how is it?
We agreed with the management that it will not be published yet, because it was after the match with Pilsen. We had before Slovácko. In addition, I have a contract for next year as well, at the moment of some result, which will either be done or not. I knew what I was in for at that moment. For that reason, we didn’t want to publish it at the time, but since the information is leaking from various sources anyway, there’s probably no point in walking around the hot mess. I didn’t feel comfortable about it either, that’s why I told the team, which was essential and most important for me. And now I have the first opportunity to say it publicly.
When did you find out about it?
I found out about it at the moment when the new management officially entered the club, although there were some signals before that. I think that is correct. They simply decided on another coach, which of course they have the right to do. The information leaked out and was quite true, which was a mystery to me when four people knew it… From that point of view, it was uncomfortable for me, because of course the cabin also perceives it. And I have a fair relationship with the cabin and I figured at that point it would be good for them to hear it from me as well. But we told ourselves that we will go all the way to the end.
How sorry are you that the new management does not count on you?
I probably wouldn’t want to answer that right now. I take it as a fact and more or less have an option for some outcome that might not happen anyway. For this reason, I respect that the new management has decided this way. I have known this for some time now and I will act accordingly. Of course, I’m trying to finish the season as best as possible, in order to achieve the best possible result. I’m sorry that we didn’t make it to the top six because we were de facto missing one goal. We are still trying, but luck was not very good for us today either, but we will fight so that next time it is not the last game for me and the team this season.
Photo: Ondřej Hájek, CTK
From left, Lubomír Tupta from Liberec, Abdallah Gning from Teplice and Albert Labík from Teplice.
How do you rate the loss in Teplice?
I cannot be satisfied because the result is unfavorable for us. I don’t think it even quite fits the flow. The first half was tactical, there were no great chances. The 0-0 result was fair. I don’t know if the home team even had a shot on goal. We had about two situations, but we were not very effective. We also had a five-on-three break situation, which we didn’t solve well either. And in the second half we allowed the home team to go into a quick transition after winning the ball in the middle of the pitch, which they did very well and finished it off with a wonderful shot by Fila. Then was probably our best passage, when we went for the equaliser, Višinský brought it to life. The first situation ended with Kulenović’s injury and then there was a clear penalty on Višinský for me, but unfortunately it was not whistled.
How annoyed are you with the second goal?
A mistake, totally pointless for us when Dumbia lost the ball. They had about three shots on goal and two of them from outside the box were goals. Beautiful shots. What can be done about it? We have to take a look. But in terms of our performance, the biggest problem was the final phase, when we had two or three chances to score a goal. We’re losing 0:2, but we’re definitely not conceding anything and we’ll try to get into it at home and dramatize the semi-final, or turn it around.
