Sparta first team began the summer pre-season on Monday at Letná. Head coach Pavel Hapal started from the scratch after his spring arrival to the club and he has the option to build the squad how he wants.
Captain David Lafata retired from professional football, another experienced player Michal Kadlec has the option to find a new club and many players came back after loan spells including talented youngsters like Matěj Pulkrab, Eldar Ćivić or Tomáš Wiesner.
There is also a new goalkeeper Milan Heča who moved to Sparta from Slovácko but that’s the only one signing so far before the new season.
Romanian player Bogdan Vatajelu hopes the next season will be much better than the previous one as Sparta finished fifth in the league and we were eliminated from the Europa League just after the first two match in the 3rd Qualifying Round by CZ Belgrade.
“I’m sure we’ll be better. I don’t know how the next season will finish but I’m 100% sure it will be better than in the last season.”
“I think we had a better second half of the season, the mood in the dressing room was better and we know each other better. That’s also a reason why I hope we will play better and the results will be better as well.”
Turkish defender Semih Kaya is also positive before the new season. “We all know our situation after the last season. We have to fight about the league title and to fight for our fans. Sparta is a huge club, the best in the Czech Republic and we have to fight every time we wear the club jersey.”
“We have to work hard during pre-season and if we will have a good pre-season I’m sure we can all take positives for the whole season.”
