Fukal: Even if Sparta lost the derby, its players are mentally strong and know what to do

In the group for the title, the clear dominance of the top three teams was confirmed. They put five, four and three goals on their opponents, that’s a lot.

It is not a failure or a weaker defense of the opponents, but they are really out-rebounded by them. What surprises me the most about Pilsen, which already has a clear third place, and at the same time is still playing very well.

Even if Sparta loses the derby, it is in their hands. And after last spring, she gained even more experience, the players who are supposed to hold the banner are in shape. They don’t fumble, they know what to do, they are mentally strong.

Slavia has a wider squad, but I believe that it is rather counterproductive in the conditions here. Players rotate too much, they often don’t play in their positions.

I wonder how they will build it on Sparta. After the clear demolition of Ostrava 5:0, I would expect a winning line-up, but I think that there will be two or three changes again.

A concrete example is Zima, who came as a leader, but something didn’t work out for him and the coach let him sit, supposedly to protect him from pressure.

As a former player, I can say that it’s even worse for him this way. Because he has it in his mind that he hasn’t really made up for those mistakes. In addition, Zima is not mentally unstable, but a positively self-confident footballer.

As a fan, I would like to see the top three tormented by others a lot more. I also had a lot of faith in Ostrava against Slavia, after all, they performed quite well last time at Sparta. But with her, you never know how it will turn out, there is no continuity of results and performance.

I agree that Baník lacks that bit to step from fourth place even a little higher, maybe in the way that some say that he does not have the spirit of Ostrava, from which he benefited before. A “chachara” player with whom a fan would identify.

In addition, he missed Ewerton in his current form. I consider this Czech rule, that I don’t let a player I let out on loan to start against me, obsolete, a relic.

I’m not surprised that many call him an alibiist or a scumbag. Either I trust the player and keep him, or I let him go and then let him play, and he has to manage it correctly and mentally against his club. That’s simple.

So who will go to Europe from fourth place? I actually don’t even know who deserves it, who to wish. The zenith of Slovakia is probably over. And the results of Mladá Boleslav are also still not at such a stable level, they have not been able to do it for a long time to be able to talk about them as a European representative of Czech football.

That’s why even teams from the playoffs have a chance for the last cup spot. Not long ago, Teplice slowly did not know how they would survive, and now they have risen pleasantly. They also won the first match against Liberec (2:0). He has ambitions, a new owner, but he couldn’t handle this. Still, he still has a chance.

Hradec played even better (3:1). It turns out that coach Horejš was able to build on the demanding playing style of Koubek’s predecessor. Apart from Pilař, they don’t have any stars, they don’t play for anything and drive, that’s how it should look.

We know that Olomouc is not in ideal shape, and the whole situation in the club seemed to affect the mood of the goalkeepers, they replaced four and everyone made mistakes! At the same time, just remember what quality goalkeepers they always had here and how many excellent players they brought up there. It takes calm and to give the club a clear order, they will definitely get out of it again. For how long, that depends only on them.

In the battle for salvation, a stone fell from my heart. Here in Jablonec, things already stank a lot, but the boys were able to turn it around at the right moment. Now I trust them that they will avoid the playoff. So did Pardubice after a 2:0 win.

This inconvenience shouldn’t concern Bohemka anymore, even though she lost 1:2. I think that the “Kangaroos” have dropped a little from the total commitment and concentration on defense that used to adorn them. They are trying to look more like a football team that doesn’t just defend fiercely.

But it’s probably not the right way for them. After all, you always have to start with the defense. The players are good, it’s more about the concept and functionality of the game to bring points. That’s the foundation, that’s the only thing that counts.

The two places in the play-off and direct relegation will therefore most likely concern the three who are there now. I don’t wish the second league on anyone, it’s hard to predict… Every point, every detail will decide. Karviná and Zlín probably do not have such a background, even if they can win at home.

Perhaps I feel the strongest support from the south of Bohemia for České Budějovice. Lately they’ve been picking up and catching. Two goals from defender Vincent Trummer show how beneficial cooperation with clubs from neighboring Austria can be in the search for players and exchanges to revitalize the squad.