The Slovak football club FC Spartak Trnava is waiting to say goodbye to the cup autumn, but coach Michal Gašparík has a lot to worry about before the match with the great Turkish favorite Fenerbahce Istanbul. His infirmary in the staff is expanding.
On Thursday evening, the Spartak Trnava team will say goodbye to the group stage of the UEFA Conference League, specifically at the famous Fenerbahçe Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadyum. The “red and blacks” will have it all the more difficult because the home team can still nurture their chances of advancement, so they definitely have something to play for.
Coach Gapšarík is also very aware of this: “We know what kind of match awaits us. At home, it’s about progression. They probably need to win to progress. We know that it will be very difficult for us. Of course, I want to play the best possible match and with the best possible result. We will see what the hosts will allow us, because the quality is on their side. We will fight from the first minute and see how it will look at the end.”
Michal Gašparík, FC Spartak Trnava, source: TASR
A pile of injuries and the “cursed” position of left back
And he is certainly right, because “Fener” can count on such offensive aces as, for example, Bosniak Edin Dzeko, Dusan Tadic, Joshua King, Cengiz Under, Michy Batshuayibut also a star Brazilian Fred. It will be all the more difficult for the Spartak team, as the team is gradually disintegrating due to numerous injuries.
Lukáš Štetina, captain Martin Mikovič, winger Erik Daniel and also Filip Bainovič joined the already whole crowd of marauders. “Regardless of who is against us, I try to give the best possible lineup, also in terms of current form,” explains Gašparík, “we have some problems there that jumped out at us, but I believe that even these guys will replace the injured and deal with it.”
“We had to alternate in the reserve and defensive formations, but I think that everyone who is in the squad is replaceable and everyone who starts has their own quality. I believe that the boys will show it, enjoy it and show what they can do on the pitch.” continues Gašparík.
As if the cursed post in the Trnava lineup is the position of left defender, as Kazeem Bolaji is missing for a long time, captain Martin Mikovič did not travel to Istanbul due to illness on Wednesday, and substitute Erik Daniel was forced to substitute in Friday’s league match against Žilina.
“I don’t know why, but we have a long-term problem with this position. We keep losing players there,” the 41-year-old coach of Spartak shook his head. “Now we had two options – either I can put the young Breznik there, or the slightly more experienced Šulek, who would have it over the leg as a right-hander.” added Gašparík.
“I prefer a little more experience because we are giving two very young stoppers a chance next to each other and against Fenerbahce you certainly don’t want to take a risk with three young players in the defensive line.” Gašparík laughed and added: “That’s why we decided to solve it with the more experienced Šulek.”
FC Spartak Trnava, training before the match in Istanbul, source: TASR
Djuric’s return is a positive. Gašparík believes in “spark”
A positive for Trnava is the return of the talented 20-year-old Serbian stopper Andrej Djuric, who is expected to start the match against Fenerbahce on Thursday: “I already had a plan prepared in advance that if he is healthy, I want to put him in this match. I’m looking forward to the fights with the Fenerbahce forwards.”
“Andrej looked excellent at home in the fights with Batshuayi, where he was better in my opinion. We will see which of the attackers Fenerbahce will field tomorrow. I want to see him next to the young Kóš, how he will deal with such quality and such a difficult match, in which the home team is going to advance and in front of a full stadium. It will definitely have a spark,” Gašparík smiled.
Ján Bernát, FC Spartak Trnava, source: TASR
Extra motivation to compare with Fenerbahce stars
It will certainly be an exceptional match for the midfielder Ján Bernát (22), who headed to Spartak Trnava as a reinforcement to expand the squad before the European cup autumn from the Belgian Westerlo. The pupil of Tatran Prešov believes that he will say goodbye to his teammates from the Conference League in the best possible light.
“I think I can say for the whole cabin that we are looking forward to this game because we have nothing to lose in it. We know what quality is up against us and what atmosphere awaits us. We want to enjoy it as much as possible, and so do I personally, so we’re looking forward to it and we’ll see what it brings us.” smiled the former player of MŠK Žilina.
“Of course, we want to enjoy it, but I think we belong in this match. We have quality and we showed it during the year. We certainly don’t want to just ‘participate’ tomorrow. It will be difficult, but we are certainly not laying down our arms ahead of time. We know what kind of players Fenerbahce has, but it gives me extra motivation that we can compare with them. They will definitely show us what we need to improve, but at the same time we believe that we will trouble them a bit.” added Bernát at the end.
2023-12-13 19:55:00
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