Trpišovský: We should have decided the procedure ourselves, not rely on anyone. I didn’t expect it

On Thursday night, Slavia plays a game they couldn’t imagine at the beginning. The promotion to the Conference League is not in their hands and even a clear win against Sivaspor will not guarantee them the spring cups. Coach Jindřich Trpišovský did not expect such a situation.

The Seškis are expecting a very special evening. Even if they happen to score five goals, as they have been doing in Eden this season, they still have to look elsewhere. Romania, where Cluj will play Ballkani.

Slavia have to rely on the fact that Cluj will not beat their Kosovo opponents. If both teams manage to win their matches, a mini-table will be decided, which will push the Red and Whites into third place.

That would be a big shock for Slavia, who have probably the easiest group on paper in recent years. But the poor form, especially in attack, has been a big setback for the Susians.

“Even before the group, it was said that we were the favourites. If we don’t qualify, we haven’t confirmed the task. We don’t have it in our hands, maybe we will do well and qualify with ten points. I honestly didn’t believe we would get into this situation,” said Jindřich Trpišovský at the press conference.

“The group was such that we had to decide on our own, not rely on anyone. Unfortunately it happened, the double match with Cluj was decisive, we didn’t score a point and we got into this situation,” said the Slavia coach self-critically.

Yet when the draw was revealed, Slavia were considered the clear favourites who should easily advance from first place. Some more optimistic fans even believed in full points.

However, the first goal may still be fulfilled. Slavia cannot advance from second place anymore, so, somewhat paradoxically, they will either advance from first place or not at all. In fact, if they beat Sivasspor and Cluj doesn’t win, the Susians will have better matches against their Turkish opponents.

“In a way it is a paradox, in previous years we left behind teams from the Bundesliga, the Danish and Israeli champions, French teams. We always had it more or less in our own hands, last year we had to play for a loss at Union, but we had it in our own hands. I have to say that even after the first two games in the group, I wouldn’t have thought that we wouldn’t have it in our hands before the last round,” Trpišovský reflects.

Source:: SK Slavia Prague