The new Sparta head coach Pavel Hapal didn’t feature in the Prague derby when he was a Sparta player in the 1999/2000 season. He was the unused substitute when Sparta trashed Slavia 5-1 in May 2000. It will be also his debut in the derby as a coach. He is looking forward to the game because he knows it’s really important game for all fans.
He talked about injuries, form and opposition during the Thursday’s press conference at Letná.
Injuries
„The player's condition is good and I’m sure we will be even better in next weeks. We have more two days before the match and I hope we will select the best line-up we can.“
About Josef Šural
„He is one of the players who had a long-term injury but he is back on the pitch and he is able to appear in some parts of training sessions. It’s only up to us when we will send him to the pitch. We have to be careful also because of his physical condition and we will discuss it with doctors and physios.“
About form and second half performances
„I think it’s not an issue of fitness. It’s only about our heads and player’s mental condition because there are no issues in training sessions with fitness. For example, Tal Ben Chaim is perfect in training sessions and he has a lot of potential. He is fast, technically perfect and great one on one but he has to make it during the matches.“
About the Prague derby
„My opinion is this match hasn’t exact favorite team because derby between these clubs is very specific. I know Slavia is ahead of us in the table and they have better results but I’m sure our players will be 100% prepared and they will give all to the match. When there is a derby the whole country follow this match. It’s not only about the people in Prague but also people from even the smallest villages in our country divide on Sparta and Slavia fans.“
About Slavia
„We show players the strengths of Slavia, what are their advantages and weaknesses but we have to concentrate on our own play. We have great players but every single player has to perform at the maximum to deliver great performance and good result. We have to fight for ourselves and for our fans.“
