In II. Slovakia is growing a very interesting name in attack in the league. He admires Robert Lewandowski, his role model is the path of Róbert Polievka, and he has set ambitions in his pocket. We spoke with MŠK Púchov gunner Lukáš Letenay and coach Marián Zimen.
In the past, it happened several times that II. the Slovak league was able to produce a very high-quality player who, over time, became interesting not only for bigger clubs, but even for the national team. We don’t have to go far for examples.
The captain of Dukla Banská Bystrica Róbert Polievka made his debut in the most valuable jersey in March 2023, while in the 2021/22 season he still roamed the lawns of the second division. For example, naturalized David Depetris followed a similar path in the past.
A 22-year-old finisher could also become a member of this group of offensive-minded footballers in the future – if everything goes as expected – Lukáš Letenay, who is currently experiencing the best moments of his career so far. For the second league Púchov in fact, he managed to score 14 goals and assist in two in 13 matches. He already enjoyed two hat-tricks this season.
Until recently, the native of Bratislava belonged to Trenčín, where, due to various circumstances, he was unable to establish himself, and therefore decided to take one step back. The admirer of the Polish bomber Robert Lewandowski made the right decision and they are very happy about it, especially in Púchov. For the current best gunner II. league, Róbert Polievka is also a great role model, especially his performance rise, which shot him to the national team.
However, it is not excluded that before Letenay there are the last two meetings in the red and black jersey of MŠK, as it is becoming more and more dense around his name and there are more and more curious eyes at Púchov’s matches. The shapely, 190 cm tall finisher already revealed more to ŠPORT.sk.
Lukáš Letenay after scoring 10 league goals in the season. There are already 14 of them, source: LL Archive
Game experience, good feeling and confidence
How do you explain that you are experiencing one of the best seasons in your career in Púchov?
“I would attribute it to game practice, because in Trenčín I suffered various injuries and did not play much. Although I had already boarded, it was only for a few minutes. It was never like I played multiple full matches in a row or from the beginning. It was hard to jump into. We decided to choose hosting and in the spring I went to Púchov.
I got the opportunity to play, I signed a contract in the summer and stayed in Púchov. Since this new season, I’ve been falling there regularly. I play regularly, I trust myself more and I can benefit from it.
However, I cannot forget that I feel good in Púchov. The club believes in me and I can feel it from coach Zimen as well. They put their trust in me already in the spring, when I was here on loan, and I still didn’t feel like that there. He tries to instill in the heads of all the guys to believe in themselves. Everything is connected to everything, and it shows on the field as well.”
How are you enjoying it in Púchov so far?
“I feel good here. The club tries to create the best possible conditions for us within its possibilities. I have nothing to blame him for. Coach Zimen is also doing his best for us. Some things are possible, some things are not, but for the kind of club we are in, we have great conditions.”
Lukáš Letenay (right), MŠK Púchov, source: FB MFK Dolný Kubín
You have great stats, so you’re happy?
“Certainly and I am aware of all that. I hear that various clubs come to watch me during matches, but I don’t make a big deal out of it. I try to score as many goals as possible. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t. My former coach in Trenčín’s youth team, Martin Fabuš, always reminded me that when I’m doing well and scoring goals, I should enjoy it as much as possible and stick to it, because there may come times when I don’t do so well and I have to struggle with it . I don’t want to admit something like that. I still have two games to go, I want to score as many goals as possible in them and we’ll see what happens after that.”
What are your goals for this season?
“I would like to become the top scorer in the league if I can play the whole spring. As for the club, we would like to finish as best as possible, but there is already a slightly bigger point gap. As players, we don’t think about it, because our goal is to fight for victory in every match, and when you do well, other teams notice you.
If you received an interesting offer during the winter, would you consider it?
“If it was interesting not only for me, but also for Púchov, all parties would agree, so I would like to move. I certainly won’t be sad if it doesn’t happen. I will stay until the end of the season and help Púchov as much as possible.”
Róbert Polievka in the J-group match of the 5th round of the European Championship 2024 qualification in football Slovakia – Portugal. PHOTO TASR
Just look at Róbert Polievka
It turns out that the 2nd league has its own quality and can be a bridge to a nice future, which has been confirmed in the past with more than one player. Do you agree?
“Definitely yes, you just have to look at the Žilina reserve, for example, and how many players were able to gradually progress through it. It’s a good environment for young players going from the U19s to the seniors. Then there is, for example, Robo Polievka, who played in the 2nd league for a long time and when he got to the 1st league with Dukla, he was among the best there, and today he already plays regularly in the national team. This competition has its own quality and is not what everyone thinks.”
Is Róbert Polievka something of a role model for you?
“I watch him and he is a player who has always had good numbers. By reaching the Niké League with Dukla and continuing with the same setup there, he was noticed by the national team and was close to moving to Slovan. It’s great that someone was able to get into the national team basically from the 2nd league. He is definitely something of a role model for me, meaning that anything is possible if you have the right attitude and work hard on yourself.”
Marián Zimen, coach of MŠK Púchov
Zimen: Sometimes one step back is necessary
We also asked coach Púchov for his opinion Marian Zimenwho recently led Letenay also in AS Trenčín. “Sometimes you have to take one step back to take two forwards. He did it. I put my trust in him and I try to work on him as well as in Trenčín. However, he did not have so many opportunities in AS, but his mentality, perseverance, hard work and talent showed. Now he’s scoring goals, he’s in the limelight, and that makes me happy.” said the 43-year-old coach.
“When symbiosis works in the team and the players understand what we require of them, individuality also comes to the fore. This is also the case with Letenay. When we talk about speed or physicality, he has great league parameters, but he mainly ‘wants’.” explains Zimen. “He has his ambitions and it doesn’t surprise me at all that he’s playing the way he’s playing,” adds.
Lukáš Letenay (second from the right), MŠK Púchov, source: FB Spartaka Myjava
He won’t be surprised if he leaves already in the winter. She even wishes him that
Letenay has a valid contract in Púchov until the summer of 2025, but it is not excluded that he could move on during the winter transfer window. Marián Zimen revealed that he wishes this for his client: “I’ll say it with one eye laughing and the other crying,” he smiled “I told every single player, including Lukáš, that I wanted him to leave. I will be the first supporter of Lukáš leaving in the winter, because I wish him that.”
“He would go to a better club, a better league, where he will have more quality around him, more competition and that will help him in his further development. I tell every player that I try to give him my best, but I can’t replace what a better league offers him.” explains “the best advertisement for the club and our work would be if he went abroad or to the I. League.”
According to the coxswain Púchov, his charge will still have to work on the mental side, as in the future he will have to face a higher quality than in II. league. “If he wants to aim for the stars, he has to work on the mental side, because he will have more quality players around him in his position. He can’t wallow and lose heart if something doesn’t work out, quite the opposite. When he goes to a bigger club and a better competition, he has to be more durable,” Zimen thinks.
Lukáš Letenay signs the contract, source: FB MŠK Púchov
Letenay can follow in Soup’s footsteps
Coach Púchova also agrees that Polievka is a great motivation for Lukáš Letenay. “He managed to establish himself and is a representative. Lukáš could also walk in a similar direction. I was lucky enough to work with, for example, David Depetris, Samuel Mráz, Filip Hlohovský or Tomáš Malec. It’s not easy to raise a shooter,” he claims.
“Today we have Lukáš here, who shows himself in a very good light in Púchov. A good example is also Ladislav Almási, who was also able to basically fight his way out of World War II. league until the national team. In the same way, Lukáš can also get into ‘big football’. I think that one day he can also be on the scale of the national team coach, if everything goes as it should,” Marián Zimen added at the end.
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2023-11-10 14:30:00
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