Slovácko’s opponent changes coach before rematch, debacle in Uherské Hradiště was the last straw

Martin Svědik’s team is very close to the group stage after a good performance in the preliminary round of the European Conference League (ECL) against AIK Stockholm. They took a promising 3:0 result into the rematch, but the coach of the local team Bartosz Grzelak will not be able to see the game in Sweden.

The team from the Swedish capital is currently in fourth place in the Allsvenskan, outside the cup standings. AIK have won only two of their last seven league games.

In the second preliminary round of the EKL, they advanced past Ukraine’s Vorskla only after extra time, and qualified for the double-header with Slovácko only after a penalty shootout against Shkendija Tetovo.

The vice-champion’s shaky performances put coach Grzelak in a position where his staying on was conditional on success on the European stage.

However, Slovácko were in charge in Uherské Hradiště, beating their Swedish opponents 3:0. The veteran Milan Petržela and the Estonian summer signing Vasilij Sinavskiy scored and sealed the fate of the Swedish coach.

Henok Goitom, a former Stockholm player, will replace him on the bench for the time being. He has already had a successful league debut, when AIK beat Norrköping 4:2.

On Thursday against Slovácko, they will make their first appearance in front of the home crowd, and they can only gain in the match. The three-goal deficit will be hard to erase against Slovácko and although the new coach’s impetus has worked in the league, Svědík’s charges should keep the lead.

The rematch of the EKL fourth round between AIK Stockholm and Slovácko is scheduled for Thursday 25 August at 7pm, the match will be broadcast by CT Sport.

Source: Fotboll Direkt