Jan Morávek: What bothers me the most about the injuries is that my family suffers from them. Schick has the potential for the Premier League

Jan Morávek has been playing continuously in the German Bundesliga since 2009 and has been playing for Augsburg for almost 10 years. In an interview with Ruik, he talked about his career, German football in general and Patrik Schick.

Transfer to Germany

Jan Morávek went to Germany as a great talent of Prague Bohemians, he was scouted by the famous Schalke, who did not hesitate to pay around 70 million crowns for him.

“I found the offer interesting. I was at the club for a traineeship. Schalke was coached by coach Rutten, a Dutchman. I thought that for a young player the Dutch school is ideal. I don’t see it as a bad move. I played with players like Raul, Neuer, Kurányi, Huntellar, Rakitic, Matip and Draxler,” he recalls of signing his first contract in Germany.

“I experienced what it’s like to be in a big European club. It was rather unlucky that coach Rutten was fired after signing his contract and coach Felix Magath came in immediately. After that, I found my way here to Augsburg via Kaiserslautern and I have no regrets, I’m happy with it,” he added.

In Kaiserslautern, the Czech midfielder had probably the best individual season of his career. He played 29 games and scored 5 goals. There were 5 Czechs and 1 Slovak in the team at that time.

“It was nice to have a Czechoslovak corner there. I was 21 years old, German wasn’t in my blood yet, so I enjoyed it. That season was a huge success, we played in front of a sold-out stadium every fortnight and as a rookie we finished 8th.”

However, both Schalke and Kaiserslautern are not having the best of times right now. The first team is in the second league, the second in the third.

“With Schalke, nobody in Germany counted on the club being in the second league. If you had asked those people there at the time, they would have laughed at you. It’s tough what has happened there in those 10 years. Especially for the fans. I experienced the way they breathe for the club,” revealed the former Gelsenkirech player.

“It’s an industrial area. People there don’t have that much money, but what they have, they are able to put everything into football. It’s admirable. Those times must be harsh for them, but I think Schalke are showing some quality in the second league. I believe they will be back relatively soon,” Morávek predicted a positive future for his former club.

“It ‘s terribly sad when you think about those fans. They were able to create an incredible atmosphere. It’s a shame that it’s resulted in them being where they are. A traditional club like this deserves to be higher up. Maybe it will slowly climb up, I had a great time there that year and it was enjoyable.”

Frequent injuries

If there’s one thing that has marked Jan Moravek’s career, it’s frequent injuries. ” I don’t want to put everything on him, but when it came to the jump between Bohemians and Schalke, it was a big leap for a 19-year-old from the Czech Republic with experience in the second league in terms of the demands of training.”

“I think I did well that year, but it probably left some effects on my body. But it was a school. The first year abroad is always difficult. I had it even more difficult because it was under coach Magath. Even bigger players get out of it when they complete a year under him,” the Augsburg midfielder is clear.

The frequent injuries understandably have a negative impact on the psyche, but Moravek is not giving up, although he admitted that last season dark thoughts entered his head after a repeated major groin injury. However, the change of coach in Augsburg, when Markus Weinzierl returned to the team, gave him motivation.

But then, if anything has kept him afloat all this time, it’s his family. He says it’s the one that gives him the most energy and motivation: ” And above all, it drives away the black thoughts. The most important thing for me is that I have a fantastic wife at home, a very active 18-month-old son, my parents in Prague, my sister… They’ve always been supportive and I know it’s difficult for them too.”

“I know it’s not a matter that concerns only me. It also affects those closest to me, which is probably what bothers me the most about it. My family suffers from it as well. But then when I’m fit and playing, everyone is happy and supportive. It’s a nice feeling when they see me on the pitch and cheer for me.”

But he is also motivated by the club’s confidence. Augsburg has been putting it into him for 10 years. Morávek himself feels that he can help his teammates on the pitch when he is fit. When I came back, I defacto won my place on the pitch and I think I showed that I still have something to give to the club.”

His goal is to rack up 200 Bundesliga starts. He currently has 153. He may add more this weekend. He is very appreciative of the fact that he has been able to play in such a good competition for so long.

A stint in Augsburg

This is Jan Morávek’s 11th season in Augsburg. He also had one very successful season in his jersey. The year was 2016, when the smaller of the Bavarian sides played in the Europa League, advanced from the group stage and got to play at Anfield Road.

Beyond that, though, he is said to be happy for any season that the Fuggerstädter (the club’s nickname) stays in the Bundesliga. Football has built up a very respectable position in the city since its promotion to the elite, but the highlight for fans was the aforementioned 2016.

“Since then, the fans have been a bit tipsy. But compared to other clubs, we don’t have that kind of budget. But when such a small and family-run club can play 11 seasons in the Bundesliga, it’s a huge achievement. Moreover, when you see how big teams have been relegated. Maybe everyone doesn’t realise that yet,” Morávek revealed.

This season hasn’t got off to a great start for Augsburg either. After seven rounds, the Bavarian team is at the bottom of the table with five points. “But we are not satisfied. The game we are playing and the results are not flattering. But now we have games where we have to score points. Now and then we have to surprise a bigger team. There is a lot of room for improvement.”

The Bohemians alumnus has already been slowed down by health complications this season, but he should be available for this weekend’s match against Bielefeld. He believes that he will be able to play in the match.

His contract expires after the season, but he is not too clear about his future yet. At the moment, it is said to be open. “It will depend a lot on my health. Obviously, if I come back and I’m healthy, there’s a better chance I’ll stay. I’ll focus on playing as many minutes as possible and helping my teammates as much as possible,” he let it be known.

He is enjoying his time in Bavaria and considers it a second home, even though he didn’t expect it. He has settled in nicely with his family and feels comfortable here. This is why he has been with the club for almost 10 years.

So he and his family are dealing with what will happen after his career:: “You somehow feel that the longer you are here, the more you can imagine staying here. But when that time comes, I’ll evaluate what the offers will be, maybe do something for the club….”

German football

The Bundesliga is a very good competition, but in the public eye it is still quite underrated in places. But according to Jan Moravek, there is only one better competition in Europe – the Premier League.

“I think the Bundesliga is the second best competition in Europe. I think it has the upper hand over the Italian and Spanish leagues. It is more balanced, stronger and more demanding. It seems to me that in the other leagues there are two or three teams that have tremendous quality, whereas the Bundesliga seems more balanced. That’s also why I appreciate the fact that I’ve been in that competition for so long. I’m happy for every game,” the Prague native revealed.

“Whether it ‘s Dortmund, Frankfurt, Gladbach, second division teams like Hamburg, Schalke… They all have beautiful stadiums and a great atmosphere.”

But that doesn’t apply to Bayern. “It has a huge stadium, but it seems to me that compared to Frankfurt or Dortmund, people don’t cheer so much and go there more like to the theatre. They count on five goals, applaud a bit and go home,” Morávek is clear.

And as far as specific things are concerned, the Bundesliga stands out with its 50+1 rule, which means that the sums in Germany are not so exorbitant and football is closer to the fans and the people. Every fan can be part of the club they support.

“I think it’s to the benefit of the cause. The fans feel much better, the connection between the fan and the club is much stronger. For me it’s a good thing, people have a positive experience with it here.”

In addition, it is quite common in Germany for clubs to fight against various forms of hatred and fight to promote human rights. This fight is often supported by the fans themselves.

“From my point of view, this is a perfectly good thing that should be normal nowadays. I certainly just welcome it. I think that overall, because Germany is a multicultural country and there are a lot of minorities, it is seen as a normal thing,” Morávek revealed his point of view.

More than one Czech footballer is now playing in the Bundesliga. Patrik Schick, who is currently the third top scorer in the league, is in great form. Morávek keeps his fingers crossed for his compatriot and believes he has great potential.

“His form is admirable. He certainly has the potential for the Premier League. I believe that he will chase down Haaland and Lewandowski. He plays at a quality club that plays offensive football. He has quality players around him who will set up chances for him. The battle for the top scorer’s canon is wide open. He’s having a fantastic game right now, so hopefully his health will hold out and he’ll try to chase those two down,” Morávek praised Schick.

Representation

At the end of the interview, the topic of the national team could not be omitted. “I had the opportunity to play with Tomáš Rosický or Jarda Plašil. It was an interesting experience. I’m glad for those starts, but I know that my health has caused me not to have more of them. But I take it for what it is.”

At 31 years old, however, he doesn’t even hope to score more starts. “I look at it as a realist. There are younger guys out there who have steady performance and who deserve it. I have to make sure I’m fit for Augsburg in the first place and give a good performance. It’ s not a topic for me,” he admitted at the end.

Let’s hope, then, that he will at least stay clear of injuries. We wish him good luck, and above all, good health!

Source: Ruik, FC Augsburg