Looking at the table is a reward for work, says Olomouc coach Zeman

The Olomouc Mighty Ducks lived up to their name in the autumn part of the Superleague. The Mighty Ducks dominate the eastern group and will enter the spring continuation of the national competition in the best starting position in a month. “I would like to say that satisfaction after the season will be with a medal around our necks, but there is still a long way to go,” says Tomáš Zeman, the head coach of the Haná team.

Olomouc leads the eastern group, what is the view of the table?

It’s a nice view, of course, it’s a bit of a reward for the players and for all of us in the management team for the work we all put in.

What do you think is behind such a successful autumn?

Already last season suggested that we could finally think about higher ranks, but unfortunately we failed to finish about three matches with a winning result. This year, the boys did it on the field and the extra points jumped in.

You lost only one game, the rematch with Brno 3:8. The Vikings were better prepared for you than in the first game, which you won 6:5?

They certainly did, strategist Zdeněk Táborský did a lot of work with the Brno team in the second half of the autumn and we saw a lot of unconventional and new tactical elements in our duel. The Vikings have picked up significantly after an unsuccessful start of the season.

What do you need to work on in the spring to make it even better?

We would definitely like to do better on the power play and on the goaltending game.

You are one win away from playoffs, will it come right in the spring opener at home against Blanensko?

It could be, we all have it set in our heads that we would like to have the topic of promotion closed as soon as possible. But these are just mathematical considerations that don’t need to be dealt with in any significant way. We won’t miss the playoffs.

So will you try new players or tactical options in the spring before the playoffs?

The axis of the team is training together over the winter, but we will definitely see some new faces in the regular season games. We have already registered one new signing. It is Jirka Mraz, who despite his young age has foreign futsal experience and looks very promising.

How important will it be to keep the first place because of the opponent for the quarterfinals?

The Western group is balanced and it will probably be impossible to know the opponent for the quarter-finals until the last round. But it is definitely an advantage because of the home game in the quarterfinal rematch.

Is there anyone you don’t want as an opponent or would like to have as an opponent?

It’s very hard to guess, spring may be different than autumn. We’ll see what the teams from the west come up with. I’ll go to some of the games so we’ll be ready for May.

I’ll ask about the name of the Olomouc team, the Mighty Ducks. At first, some may have scoffed at it, but how was it received by the players, the fans, the people of minor football?

I certainly didn’t see any mockery, although our name might have caused a bit of a stir. After a while, I have to say that the public and the fans perceive us for what we are. We are simply the Mighty Ducks, not just the men’s A team, but the other five teams as well. Our club is represented in all categories in the national competitions for the 2022/2023 season. Some places play wolves, some places play partisans, and we’re just plain Ducks, and mighty ones at that.