Let’s start the football conversation a little unconventionally with your name. Do you know that only 43 Žambůrků live in the Czech Republic according to the nasejmena.cz server, and you are now the only one north of the Elbe?
(smiles) I don’t know at all, you surprised me. Of course I know my family, but to know that there are only forty of us, that’s all.
Have you ever wondered about the origin of your name?
I don’t, but I know that my mother used to look for it, but we didn’t find it. Perhaps it has roots somewhere in France, but I would be talking nonsense.
You lived abroad for five years, it is difficult for foreigners to pronounce your surname. What did they call you in England and Denmark?
Most often Jan, they don’t inflect. And then sometimes Zamby. Harvest is hard for foreigners, so only Zambians.
The dream of most footballers is to play abroad, why did you return to the Czech Republic?
I knew that this season I would not get an opportunity from the coach in Denmark. I wanted to get more space. And when Liberec was interested in me, I was happy for this opportunity. I want to do my best now to help Liberec.
Has something changed in Viborg that you wouldn’t get as many chances?
Already in the spring, I felt from the coach that I was not quite the type of player for his system. And at the same time, new footballers came there, so I suspected that it would be difficult there this season.
Is it disappointing after a year and a half? You played quite a bit before.
We’re not going to lie, I think my family and I expected it a little differently. But this is football. I think it moved me too. But as you say, I played from the beginning, and I don’t think it was bad. Only the coach simply had a different vision. We disagreed on this. So I took this step.
And why to the Czech league?
In fact, it made the most sense to me, because I know coach Kozlo from the national team. I know what I can expect from him and the coach knows what he can expect from me, he knows my strengths and weaknesses. I think he can get the best of me. I also know Lukáš Červ here, so it made a lot of sense to me. In addition, I have never played in the Czech league, so I think this is an interesting change.
When we got to Lukáš Červ, wouldn’t you be sorry if he left Liberec?
So we’ve known each other since childhood, but you have to ask Lukáš about questions about him. (smiles)
You are on loan in Liberec, you have a contract in Viborg until 2025. How realistic is it that you will return to Denmark after the season?
You never know in football. I try not to think about it now. I’m on loan in Liberec and I’m trying to focus on him as much as possible. There might be a chance to get back there, but it might not be, we’ll see.
Have you already moved completely or have you kept an apartment in Viborg?
Now it’s a bit more complicated because it happened so fast, so there’s a bit of a problem with the apartment. Now I don’t even know if I’m going to keep something there or if I’m going to move everything. I still have to work it out.
You were abroad for five years. How do you rate them now?
Very positively. It’s really something different and a great experience. I think it’s not easy and maybe not for everyone. Everyone has to evaluate this for themselves, but I am extremely glad that I took this step at seventeen. He pushed me both in football and personally. I learned a language, got to know another culture, made many friends.
How did abroad move you the most in terms of football?
Technically and tactically, in general, in how they perceive football abroad. The intensity in training and matches is different. It’s about the details. One’s eyes open a little. When I went to Brentford, they were in League Two and more or less mid-table. And basically right from the first training session with A, I started to realize how many good players, whether they came from the second French league or perhaps Africa, are running around the world and how difficult it really is to get to the highest level.
Who impressed you the most?
For example, Saïd Benrahma, probably the best player I’ve ever played with. Everyone knew what he was going to do with the ball, but he was still so good technically that he was messing with us in training. (smiles). I was able to learn from the whole team at Brentford. And as you can see, Brentford are doing relatively well in the Premier League right now.
How sorry are you that your start in the Premier League didn’t work out for you?
Sorry, sure. Too bad I got injured, which slowed everything down a bit. At the same time, I was a young player, I mainly wanted to play, that’s why I went to Denmark. Of course, it would be nice if I had a debut in the Premier League, but somehow I don’t care about it anymore. I believe that whatever is meant to happen will happen. But of course I won’t lie, it’s a shame I don’t have a start in the Premier League. He was close after all. But I don’t dwell on that anymore.
Do you still dream of the top flight in England knowing how difficult it is to get there?
Now I know how difficult it is and what, for example, is important in football as well as outside it. In that regard, I could be more prepared than before when I first came there. But I know it’s a long way away and I’m trying to focus on Liberec now.
Are you studying economics remotely, have you finished your exams for this year yet?
I’m a freshman, I’ve got it for three years. I think it will be much more difficult now that I am in the Czech Republic and I will probably have less time. But I study remotely, I can manage the exams individually, a lot of it is a form of self-study. When I get an apartment here and settle down more, I’ll start to deal with school again.
2023-09-09 23:59:59
#huge #experience #student #Žambůrek #playing #Sport.cz
