“I have to say, a little bit,” he says when asked if he was a bit on edge at the time. He was just doing an interview on the desktop for the club’s television. “The fans called me out, I didn’t expect that. A lot of emotional moments and I really appreciate the fact that people haven’t forgotten me,” smiles Koller.
In his first season after transferring from Anderlecht (2001/2002), he helped the famous German club win the title. In total, he played for Borussia for five seasons, scoring 79 goals in all competitions and making 32 assists.
He still maintains a close relationship with Dortmund. “When I ask for tickets, they use me like that, I still have responsibilities there because I’m part of the legends team. We go around the world to play matches and promote the club,” he explains, adding that he chose the match with AC Milan himself after the Champions League group stage was drawn.
On top of that, media responsibilities piled up, for example he also did live entries for Nova Sport. But the moment described above won over everything. “I really didn’t expect it, especially in such a setting and before such a match,” says the man who turned 50 in March.
He was no longer so happy with the result (0:0) and especially with the game played. Jude Bellingham went from Dortmund to Real Madrid in the summer, which, according to Koller, is still very noticeable, especially in the offensive part.
“There are big departures every year. They look for and select talent, which they then sell on. The beginning of the season is not like that, especially in terms of games. They have a lot of work ahead of them, especially in the offensive phase. The lost title in the last round also affected it a lot, some players are not mentally at the same level as at the end of last season,” thinks Koller, the best national team scorer in history.
Of course, he still closely follows Sparta, with whom he celebrated the league title in the 1994/1995 season and the domestic cup a year later. Letensi are currently fighting in the Europa League, on Thursday they lost 1:2 at the Spanish Betis.
“Damage. They started excellently, played very well in the first half, unfortunately the second half was worse. Rather, it was an improved game from Betis. His players got up to speed, they were already favorites before the match, and they were playing at home,” says Koller.
Photo: Profimedia.cz
Jan Koller received the applause of a packed stadium before Dortmund’s match with AC Milan.
Sparta now have two clashes with Glasgow Rangers in the basic group. First on October 26 at home, then on November 9 away. The fan will certainly remember the mutual duels from 2021, also from the Europa League group. Summer full of children or Rangers footballer Glen Kamara, known for his controversy with celebrity Ondřej Kúdela.
“After those incidents from the past, it’s going to escalate. In addition, I think that it will be decided on the promotion from the group. I believe that Sparta will mainly manage the match at home, it will be very stormy in Glasgow. However, she has the talent to advance,” believes Koller.
The over two-meter tall man is also an ambassador for the MOL Cup and was traditionally one of the main actors in the round of 16 draw on Friday. He awarded Sparta the exit. Either to the ground of the third division Kolín, or to Ďolíček for Bohemians.
“If Bohemka can handle the match in Kolín, it will probably be the most interesting of the round of 16 clashes. Moreover, right in Ďolíček. I looked at the calendar and I wouldn’t want to miss the match,” Koller points out.
2023-10-06 15:45:27
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