Ondřej Palát prepared an emphatic hit in the space between the substitutes, where photographers stand behind the goalposts during matches. He picked Jung up and sent him among them.
“At least something for the people. We are struggling, the energy is there, but our performances are so toothless. It would need a bit of an idea, a bit of cleverness, to slow down the game to make it better,” Palát summed up the poor Czech performance five days before the start of the home championship without excuses. The Swiss managed to expertly beat coach Radim Rulík’s choice 2:1.
Did the nervousness of the nomination fight, which will be cut by coach Rulík tonight, take its toll on the team?
I don’t know, I can’t speak for the other guys. Of course, there were a lot of us here, the training sessions were in large numbers of players, but they were brisk. I don’t know if the guys were nervous. I felt good and I can’t speak for anyone else.
World Cup hockey nomination: Goalkeepers stayed. Defence: Gudas, Kempný, Špaček, Krejčík, Ščotka, Hájek, Rutta, Kundrátek. Attack: Beránek, Červenka, Palát, Flek, Kondelík, Sedlák, Lenc, Kousal, Stránský, Kampf, Kaše, Kubalík, M. Kovařčík, Voženílek, Tomášek.
May 5, 2024 at 10:39 PM, Post Archived: May 5, 2024 at 8:43 PM
In the first period, which was the worst in the tournament, as if many Czech players were mainly trying not to make a mistake, she was lifeless, do you agree?
In short, the Swiss played a good midrange. They were leading 2:0 and shut it down, that’s how everyone does things in hockey today, that’s how world games are won. We try not to lose the puck, we try to defend the defending players, but we still have those losses. Like I said, it would take a little more cleverness.
Did you notice the whistle of the spectators after the first period?
Not really, the fans here were great during all three games. Of course, it would be better if we pleased them with a win, but… they are excited for the championship. I hope that the Czech team will perform much better there than in Brno.
Andres Ambühl from Switzerland fights with Jakub Krejčík in front of Lukáš Dostál’s goal.
Are you happy with how you sent the opponent behind the bar in the first period?
I just wanted to finish him normally, take the puck away from him. I didn’t even know he took off like that. (smile)
Can three defeats and only two goals scored affect the mood in the cabin?
It’s just preparation. Of course we have to work on it and improve.
What did you base your power-ups on? Did you rely on habits from the clubs or did you play them intuitively?
Probably roughly so. In the clubs, everyone plays them somehow… today we played power plays that we didn’t practice, we didn’t have training for them, so we drew something for them on the board. Of course it’s not ideal. It has to be practiced.
Do you at least feel good about the weakening in which you escaped the Swiss several times?
I guess it’s not bad. Even there, however, there is still room for improvement.
Are you counting on another team at the championship to start again, or are you nervous that things really didn’t look good during the Czech Games?
It doesn’t make you nervous. Before long, the coach will announce the lineup, then we’ll see who gets into the lineup, and then the championship form will begin.
