What is the risk for Slavia in Gibraltar? Artificial and harder balls. Even if the Martians come on, we have to play the same way, says Trpišovský

A very unusual duel awaits Prague Slavia. For the first time in the European Cups they will play on artificial grass and other specifics await them. However, coach Jindřich Trpišovský urges that the players must cope with it.

Artificial grass is a nightmare for many players. It destroys knees, joints and bones, so elite players hardly look at it. So when it comes to a clash with a team that plays on a hard surface regularly, it can be a problem.

Trpišovský said that he didn’t want to risk injuries to players because of the artificial grass, so Slavia didn’t even train on it in Prague. At the same time, with regard to the surface, he will spare the players after severe health problems, which is why Petr Ševčík did not fly to Gibraltar and Lukáš Provod might not start.

However, the trip to Gibraltar is very specific. Practically nothing works as it should.

“Everything is different from the moment of arrival. There is a specific environment. We will be playing on artificial grass for the first time in the European Cups.

There are more things here, for example, the power went out for a whole day. Compared to our usual trips, there’s not a single standard thing here. It‘s all a little bit different, but that’s why it’s good that we arrived a day early to prepare ourselves to do the best possible performance,” Trpišovský told the club’s website.

However, the balls are also different, as St. Joseph’s plays matches with Mitre balls.

“They are specific in that we don’t see them in the Czech Republic, it will probably be a first. They are Mitre balls, which are used a lot in England, especially in the lower competitions. They used to be used in the English league and played with them by Blsany. I don’t know about these, but those balls used to float a lot in the past, they were harder. It was said that they were made especially for English football and for headers,” Trpišovský said.

Although so far it looks like a nice trip to a nice destination coupled with a simple friendly, it’s definitely not. Slavia will have a tough competitive match for a place in the Conference League and must not underestimate anything.

“If there was a volcano or the Martians, we have to play the same way,” Trpišovský urges his charges.

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