Slovan Bratislava is experiencing a successful period. However, an inevitable change awaits him.
The second oldest team in the Conference League
The average age of the team is 27.6 years. It is the highest in the domestic competition and the second highest in the Conference League. The oldest players are also the leaders – Džaba Kankava (37 years old), Juraj Kucka, Guram Kašia, Milan Borjan (36 each), Vladimír Weiss Jr. (34).
SK Slovan Bratislava trainer Vladimír Weiss senior. expects that Thursday’s final duel of Group A of the European Conference League (EKL) against NK Olimpija Ljubljana (9 p.m.) will bring attractive and offensive football.
Among the under-27s, only Lucas Lovat (26), César Blackman (25) and David Strelec (22) are trusted in tough European matches. In the domestic competition, Filip Lichý (22) and Nino Marcelli (18) start more regularly. Slovan lacks prospects in several positions that would gradually replace the outgoing leaders and at the same time be monetized in the future.
Many with an uncertain future
According to Transfermarkt, as many as 15 players from the 25-man squad will have their contracts or loans expire by the next summer. Malik Abubakari and Sharani Zuberu are visiting only until December 31. Slovan has an option on both. However, they appear minimally, do not reach numbers and their persistence is rather improbable.
Marko Tolič and David Strelec are on loan until the end of the season with the option of a permanent transfer. Their stay will also depend on the amount of the agreed options, the club did not disclose their values. The shooter is getting in shape after returning to Slovan and expressed his ambition to stay at Tehelno poli. “I want to play so that Slovan redeems me,” he said after his debut.
Milan Borjan is on loan at Slovan without an option. With Crvena Zvezda Belgrade, he has a contract valid until the summer of 2026, he expressed interest in returning.
The contracts of the following players will expire at the end of the current year – Kucka, Kankava, Kašia, Weiss Jr., Barsejjan, Lovat, Zmrhal, Pauschek, Križan, Agbo.
Trainer Vladimír Weiss sr. often singles out the first three named as exemplary professionals. Thanks to this, despite their advanced age, they can help the team in the next season as well. Weiss Jr. although he is younger, he is increasingly limited by injuries. Agba and Križana are used minimally by the coach and it would be surprising if they received new contracts.
To replenish and rejuvenate, Weiss wishes
“We know which players we want to continue with in the future,” General Director Ivan Kmotrík Jr. did not specify the names: “We also have alternatives ready in case of any additions to the squad. Most of the contracts end in the summer, so now in the winter we don’t perceive it so dramatically.
It will be important for us to keep the squad together. And maybe they supplemented it with 1-2 players. But I certainly do not expect drastic changes during the winter transfer period. After that, there will be enough time to prepare for what we will demand from the team in the next season.”
VIDEO: Godfather: There is interest in Slovan players abroad. What’s coming up in winter?
“I believe that the key players will stay,” added coach Weiss: “The contracts of many of them will expire in the summer, so we will agree with them on their further activity in Slovan. And I also believe that we will supplement and rejuvenate the team appropriately. We have an experienced team and no one will play until they are 100 years old. But we have to do it continuously and sensibly.”
Will they fulfill their promise to Čavrič about the transfer?
The future of the main star Aleksandar Čavrič is also uncertain. Slovan announced an offer of an improved contract for the offensive ace, but the Serb has not yet signed it. In the summer, he had one foot in Rubina Kazan. As he continues to perform well, it can be expected that he will have even more interesting offers in the winter.
“What we promised him, that we would allow him another engagement in the winter, that will probably happen. As long as there is continued interest in him,” Weiss declared at the end of September.
A month later, he said: “There is a lot of interest in Čavrič, but he has a new contract for two and a half years on the table. I believe he will sign it and stay in our colors.” His current contract expires in the summer of 2025. A possible transfer must make sense for all parties.
A great result that should not be underestimated. Slovan Bratislava drew in the Conference League with the champion of France two years ago and currently the fifth Ligue 1 team.
There is interest in players abroad. Just so they don’t leave for free
Those interested from abroad are reportedly not only asking about Čavrič. “We are registering a certain interest in our players. We probably know who we are talking about. If we proceed with any sales, we will have to compensate for these losses,” confirmed Kmotrík Jr.
In addition to Čavrič, the Brazilian with the magical left-hander Lucas Lovat or the in-form Tigran Barsejgan could also be monetized for Slovan. The problem is that both are out of contract after the season and can negotiate with any club on a free transfer from January 1st (effective July 1st).
If Slovan does not agree on a new contract with them, he can try to sell them during the winter, but only for a fraction of their real value. In recent months, Myenty Abena, Vernon De Marco, Jurij Medvedev and Andre Green left the club.
Last year, before the end of the group stage of the Conference League, he was teetering on the edge, playing for everything. There’s no drama this time.
Will Slovan fight for Polievka again?
So far, there is unprecedented silence about potential arrivals. “Things are done, but I’ll keep it to myself,” Kmotrík Jr. hid. It can be expected that Slovan will at least investigate the possibilities of the arrival of Róbert Polievka from Banská Bystrica, in whom he was eminently interested in the summer.
“We’ll see what the next months bring. I am currently concentrating on Dukla as much as possible and I want to help her at least until the winter. If there is an interesting offer on the table, the management of Dukla is willing to negotiate,” declared Polievka in August, when his transfer to Slovan failed and he extended his contract with Bystrica until the summer of 2025.
In recent days, Slovak footballer Róbert Polievka was often shaken in the media in connection with his transfer to Slovan Bratislava. The striker of Banská Bystrica and the national team showed great interest in joining the team of “whites”, but the clubs did not agree.
He does not give up the dream of the Champions League
Weiss st. already in the press after promotion to the spring part of the Conference League, he focused on the further improvement of the team: “Some crown will come to the club, which we can invest. I believe that Slovan will keep getting better. I believe that we will achieve the dream of the Champions League one day. For that, we all in the club have to put in two shovels and work even harder. To make good decisions so that we are always better.”
Before the last game of the successful cup season against Olimpija Ljubljana (on Thursday from 21.00 at Tehelno poli and RTVS), he added: “From countries or clubs like us, it (participation in the Champions League group) is possible once every three years. Step by step and I believe that it will come one day. Whether I live to see it or not, Slovan has the potential.”
VIDEO: Trainer Vladimír Weiss senior. before the match with Olimpija Ljubljana:
2023-12-14 03:57:59
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