Patrik Šimko’s Return: A Big Name in Prešov’s Second League Team

The club announced his arrival in an original and funny way. Before the season, he published a graphic on the social network with the contribution of Fabrizio Romano. Perhaps the most renowned sports journalist of today, who reports on football mega-transfers and has over 17 and a half million followers on Twitter, should have written that the people of Prešov have gained a huge name. One of the most valuable reinforcements in the league.

The post was de facto true. Although, of course, it was not about Jack Grealish from Manchester City or Kylian Mbappé from Paris St. Germain, as the fans subsequently guessed.

A member of the club returned to Prešov PATRIK ŠIMKO (32), who is a really big name by second league standards.

After leaving Tatran, he worked at the academy in Žilina, from where he headed to the Czech Republic. First, he was a player for 1. HFK Olomouc for two years, then he spent an entire decade in Slovácko. He has more than 150 matches in the highest Czech competition, he enjoyed a triumph in the Czech Cup.

The well-built stopper, who is also able to play on the edge of defense, played last fall in the group stage of the European Conference League, in which he played on the field of Partizan Belgrade. Slovácko’s opponents were also Nice and Kolín nad Rýnom.

Over the weekend, Prešov beat Liptovský Mikuláš (1:0) in the second division. What was the match like?

Heavy. We wanted to master it, just like the opening one in Spišská Nová Ves. I’m still getting to know the second league. We have to play more as a team to be successful.

Liptáci performed in the highest competition in the past two seasons. Was the motivation on your part all the greater?

Of course, but first of all we look at ourselves. We played at home, where we want to get a good result every time and get three points.

news-item-description">“I’m a perfectionist, players don’t have it easy,” says Prešov coach Peter Hlinka. As a former player of the back rows, he can be satisfied with the defensive activity of his team for now. A single goal is enough for him to win.

You say that you still get along with your current team. What have you already managed to find out about him?

The second league is specific. And what did I find out? There is a good team here, I think we are pulling together at the same end of the rope. I hope that we will be successful in the next matches as well. Our goal is to master every single one.

Tatran does not hide the fact that he would like to advance. Do you identify with these ambitions?

I don’t want to get ahead, we need to go gradually, from match to match. Not looking at the overall goal, but at the next weekend, which we need to manage. Now it will be a meeting in Malženice.

You spent the past ten seasons in the Czech league. What convinced you to accept the offer from the other Slovak company?

I had to leave Tatran at the age of 18, under the management at the time. However, I am a member of the club, from Prešov, and it has always been my dream to play here, for my city. I longed to return one day and this year it all came together. Abroad didn’t work out for me and I told myself that if I had to play in Slovakia, then only in Prešov. We quickly agreed, I am looking forward to my return and will fight for this club.

Not long ago, you played in the European Cup. Is that a huge difference?

Of course, it’s a leap. The stadiums are different, and especially from this point of view, motivation is more difficult. But I say, I want to fight for Tatran, so I have to find it.

Šimko (left) is enjoying his return to the club of which he is a pupil. Source: Viktor Zamborský

After the match with Liptovský Mikuláš, you were among the last to leave the pitch, family members were waiting for you at the playing area. Do you enjoy coming home from this point of view as well?

Certainly yes. I was gone for thirteen years, I missed my family. Whether it was me or my son, the grandparents were very far away. Now we enjoy it, and they help us too. So great (smile).

2023-08-07 13:00:00
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