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Slovakian international goalkeeper Dominik Holec is leaving Czech Sparta Prague for a six-month loan deal at Polish club Lech Poznaň. In an interview with ŠPORT.sk, he revealed his feelings about leaving Letná. He admitted that leaving the “centennial” is not so pleasant for him.
v Sparta Prague he has been working since the summer of 2020, where he headed after finishing MŠK Žilina. He played a total of 24 games for the “Reds” and enjoyed a clean sheet in ten of them.
He spent two-and-a-half years at Letná, of which he was on a highly successful six-month loan deal at Raków Čenstochová in Poland, and although his contract with the Prague club expires in the summer, it is very likely he will join the Already Chapter’ Spartans”. Dominik Holec does not write any more lines.
Now he is looking forward to a new challenge in his career. In an interview for SPORT.sk he also talked about why he was sick Sparta he leaves hard, positive and negative, and also what he expects from being a guest in the reigning Polish champion’s team. The guy even commented on the possibility Slavic Bratislava.
A more difficult departure from Letna
How do you feel about leaving Sparta Prague??
“To be honest, not very easily. I imagined working at this club a little differently, but football is like that. The second thing is a group of guys. He was excellent in the cabin and the same goes for the whole team of implementation and for other people in the club.
It was a good relationship, so that’s why it’s hard for me to walk away. I have heard that there is also a nice atmosphere in the Lech cabin, but I have developed a great relationship with Sparta over the last few years and this club has become close to my heart.”
You said you imagined football a little differently. You lost your place in the squad during the season and since September you’ve only been covering the back of the talented Matěj Kovář. Was it difficult to cope with the number two position?
“Exactly, but I lost that position during the night. Matěj Kovář came and suddenly I was alone on the bench. It was announced to me the day before the match and I must say I took it badly. It wasn’t easy and I I had to deal with it.I accepted that it’s simply football and it carries these things.
However, I had to look ahead, work hard and create such a service for others that the cabin was as comfortable as possible. I certainly didn’t want to be upside down. It finally led me to leave for Lech. For now, he’s hosting. We’ll see in the summer if it makes sense or not.”
Is it possible that in Prague the doors are not completely closed yet?
“Sure, you should never say never, but I think that door is more slammed than ajar. We’ll see how my semester in Lech turns out, but I honestly don’t think I could go back.”
An unfortunate setback and the disfavor of some fans
You had some good moments in Sparta, but also some bad ones. Include the unfortunate incident with Dávid Hanck, which cost Sparta their UEFA Conference League appearance?
“Mistakes are part of football. Unfortunately, it happened to us and it’s happening to a much older player as well. But that’s no excuse. It happens and it’s up to each of us to learn from it or not. We were very sorry, but it’s something I can’t take back, and I certainly don’t want to remember that when I think about Sparta.
I want to remember the guys in the stand and other people all over the club because they were amazing. I also have to point out Sparta’s excellent facilities, thanks to which we had everything we needed. I will be grateful for the rest of my life to be able to play for Sparta. Sure, I would have liked it to end differently, but I tried my best. I will remember this club well.”
Some fans were happy with the news of your departure. Some even wrote that Sparta was too big a mouthful for you. What do you say??
“I’m not going to pretend now that it was great of me. I am very self-critical to say such a thing. On the other hand, to say that Sparta were not at my level, I would not agree. I have confirmed many times. Also about hosting in Raków.
I had the longest run without conceding, we finished second and won the Polish Cup. It’s not always just a question of the players, even if, yes, they are the ones on the pitch, but it’s also not nice when you enter the pitch and the fans are yelling your biggest rival’s name and you haven’t made a single tackle.”
What do you mean?
“Sometimes it’s not easy with the fans, although I certainly don’t want to throw everyone in the same bag. You need to know how to work with it. You have to show the fans that you have what it takes. If I couldn’t do it for them, of course I’m sorry. I won’t do anything about it. It’s their opinion and I won’t take it from them. On the other hand, the behavior of some fans towards us, towards the players and other people at the club, hasn’t been ideal.
In Sparta they are used to different results. In the long run it’s not good, as everyone would imagine, but that doesn’t mean that what happened then has to happen on the Internet or outside of it. But this is also part of football. The results weren’t ideal. We wanted to win the title and the cup and be successful in Europe, but, unfortunately, it didn’t work out for us, but the way some fans have reacted, sometimes it made us very sad.”
A new challenge called Lech Poznaň
You will now operate at Lech Poznań, also known for its passionate supporters, so you will face similar pressure as Sparta, do you agree?
“I recognize when fans expect a lot from their club. If there is a framework and background for this, then it should be like this. Both in Sparta and in Lech there are only the highest goals, but on the other hand, it must also be have normal feedback. If it goes as far as insulting family or threats, that’s not exactly ideal.”
Do you think it will be different in Lech?
“I can’t wait to see full stadiums, because I was in Poland during the pandemic, when the gates were closed. I believe that with my performances I will win as many fans to my side as possible and show them that I have what it takes and that the semester in the Ekstraklasa was not just a coincidence.”
With what goals are you going to Poznan?
“It will be important for me to get on goal as soon as possible, but above all I want to help Lech climb as high as possible in the table. They are in 6th place, but we still have one game left and we are only one point away from third. We have to do our best all to stand up and join the cup fights.
You never know, maybe not even in title defense, even if Raków has a big lead and is playing in top form. I think Lech has the squad to be able to reshuffle the cards again. I also have to say that I am looking forward to Ľuba Šatka, who will help me better acclimatize in the cabin. But I think there will be no problem with that.’
ŠK Slovan is worth considering
You had several options on the table and decided on Lech. But was there a chance to come to Slovan Bratislava? The question of the goalkeeper’s post is often under discussion at Tehelno polí.
“To be honest, I don’t know of any specific offer. If there was any, it didn’t reach me. I don’t know exactly what the situation is at Slovan, whether they are still looking for a goalkeeper or not, but nobody contacted me. My agent would be better able to answer.”
How would you react if they were interested?
Slovan are a big club and it’s certainly not an option I would discount immediately, but we still tried to look for an option abroad. I wanted to delay my return to Slovakia. If there was an offer from Slovan, I’m not saying I wouldn’t take it into consideration, but the priority was abroad.”
