In the photo, Spartak Trnava coach Michal Gašparík Source: TASR/František Iván
TRNAVA – Spartak Trnava strengthened its squad at the end of September. The 32-year-old Slovak goalkeeper Michal Šulla, who last worked in Bratislava’s Slovan, joined the club.
Before that, he was fishing for Myjava and Senica. His contract with the “Whites” ended in the summer and he has been without a club since then, so the “Angels” could reach for him as a free player with the status of an amateur. In the summer, he was on trial in Michalovci, but in the end, no agreement was reached. In Trnava, he agreed on a contract until the end of the calendar year.
By hiring him, the “Red and Blacks” are responding to the injuries of goalkeepers Ľuboš Kamenár and Dobrivoj Rusov, who will be out of action for a longer period of time. Only Dominik Takáč and Martin Vantruba remained available as coaches, the youngster Patrik Vasiľ is on loan in Malženice, which is Spartak’s farm.
The plan worked perfectly
Šulla was officially introduced to his new teammates in the Spartak cabin after Wednesday’s final match of the 3rd round of the Nike League with Košice, in which the Trnava team won convincingly 3:0. Between the three posts in the home jersey stood Vantruba, who was given priority over Takač in the lineup rotation. Coach Michal Gašparík also abandoned the traditional formation and built a starting eleven in a 3-5-2 formation.
“We put together the lineup considering that after the national team break we had five games and this week we already had three. Some players were in the red, there was a risk that there could be injuries. We didn’t want to take risks and we wanted to make it a little easier with the system, to help you are the second striker and play in three or five at the back.
The guys managed it and in the second half, after deploying classic wings and offensive Bernát, we switched to our standard 4-3-3 formation. Substitutions, especially Azango, helped us a lot. The plan worked out for us, we wanted to rotate the players because fatigue accumulates.” said coach Gašparík.
Stopper Andrej Djurič was missing from his team due to a sprained ankle, he should be ready for Sunday’s duel in Dunajská Streda. The deployment of Philip Azang in the 61st minute, who was involved in the second and third goals of the “angels”, proved to be key.
“We had a conversation together, he told me that he feels that I don’t trust him, because I prefer Ofori and Daniel. It’s difficult, he was a key player in Trenčín, we have several quality footballers here, we try to rotate it. When they have the form of Ofori with Daniel, they are playing. However, Phlilip told me that he feels that he is in scoring form. He confirmed it against Košice, scoring a goal and passing for one. I was very pleased that he stepped up in this style.” said Gasparík.
A league start for Spartak, a goal
He also addressed striker Michal Ďuriš with praise. In his case, for now, a league start for Spartak means a goal. “The first thing is why I fielded him. If I put other players, maybe they look tired on the field. He played with Ludogorca, Ružomberok and against Košice and I can afford it in his case because he is a great professional. He has a modified diet, leans towards vegetarianism, takes care of himself, regenerates, is the oldest player on the team.
I wasn’t afraid to put him up, we only rotated him to avoid any possible overuse injury. The second thing is how he acts in the cabin, how humble, hardworking and how he performs. He is quality and he helped us a lot in the previous matches as well. At the same time, he has numbers – goals and assists. I believe he won’t get stuck because it’s very important if you have a goal striker up front.” Gašparík evaluated his blade on the tip.
Photo gallery (2) Source: TASR/Lukáš Grinaj
The captain of Spartak was rightly satisfied, but disappointment prevailed in the Košice camp after the loss by a class difference. “We probably deserved to lose. We created some half-chances, but we couldn’t get into clear opportunities. We had some shots and finishes after set pieces, but Trnava was efficient, they had other chances, crossbar.
We lacked quality, calmness and precision. Maybe we played a little better than against Trenčín, but in the end it didn’t bring anything. We have no points and we conceded three goals. We have to improve in almost everything,” said the right defender of Košice Lukáš Fabiš.
Soltis wants the players to add
Eastern coach Anton Šoltis still cannot count on several experienced players due to injuries. He sees this as the reason for poor results. “We lost six players from the starting line-up, now Faško is back. It’s an awful lot. The players who start have to add. And that’s not easy. We’re waiting for the recovery of the footballers who are important for us. It was also visible in the first duels , as soon as the defense leaves, two key stoppers are out, it shows in. For now, we are looking for each other, we are also trying to change the lineup in the matches.
We were more relaxed and playful now, but it’s still about the result being important. We have to add, toil, we are not complaining. The boys wanted a chance, they have it, or they have to get it for objective reasons, they just have to add and find out where the league is. Some are in the second division, but we thought we would give them a chance to prove themselves in the league. Now they have to convince whether they have it or not,” Soltis added.
In the next league round, Košice will try to get points in Pobrezová, Trnava will face DAC in the MOL Arena on Žitno ostrov. Both meetings will be played on Sunday, October 1, in central Slovakia at 5:30 p.m., in southern Slovakia at 6:00 p.m.
Author: © List Source: TASR
2023-09-28 07:45:01
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