The toughest group? Definitely. Even so, Pilsen could play a little more boldly and go the extra mile

COMMENTARY – Viktoria Plzeň has faced all the opponents in its group. They have only scored one goal and conceded 12, making them the worst team in the Champions League. Couldn’t it be conceived a little differently?

Viktoria’s participation in the Champions League is a huge achievement. An absolute fairy tale that Plzeň deservedly won for themselves. It won the Czech league and went through three difficult preliminary rounds, no one can dispute that.

At the same time, no one can doubt that Viktoria got the toughest possible group and almost no one expected them to get any points. But at the same time, since the draw it seems that the players have already fulfilled their task, they don’t count on embarrassing their opponents and they just go to the matches to enjoy themselves and change jerseys. Like at half time against Bayern, when Ndiaye changes jersey with Mané instead of thinking about the 0:3 scoreline.

1::4, 0::2, 0::5. That’s Victoria’s results against Barcelona, Inter and Bayern. On the one hand, one can understand that these teams play “a completely different sport” and that Czech teams cannot compete with them. On the other hand, we’ve seen so many times that a midget has caught a big opponent off guard, so it’s possible – it’s just that Viktoria would have to play completely differently.

Almost every time the underdog has robbed the favourite of points, it’s been with a demanding, dedicated, running and aggressive game where you can’t give the opponent an inch of space. In short, what you don’t have the quality to do, you have to make up by running.

As much as Victorians don’t like to hear it, comparisons to the 2019 Slavia are offered. The Seškivians won 2 points in a similar group then, but above all they impressed the whole of Europe with their attractive concept of the game, where they were not afraid to press opponents like Barcelona, Dortmund or Inter high up the pitch.

Concrete or pressing?

If nothing else, it brought the representation of Czech football and prestige. And anyway, Slavia didn’t get any rations even with an open goal, they drew once with Inter, lost narrowly to Barcelona at home even though they were the better team, drew at Camp Nou, and played thrilling games against Dortmund that entertained all the fans.

We do not want to denigrate Plzen and say that everything is wrong. They worked their way into the Champions League with their defensive style and they continue to stick to it. Still, I find it a pity that the Victorians don’t play a little more boldly, that they don’t try to show something and sell players abroad.

After all, how did Soucek, Coufal, King, Zima or Sima sell themselves to Europe? Just by their performances in cups. It’s just that if Viktoria park the bus in every game and rely on a miracle, no one will be interested.

And they’ll take a beating just like they did at the Allianz Arena. So isn’t it better to try to play an active game, in which you show that you are not afraid of the opponent? The result might be similar, but at least everyone would applaud you for your courage. And maybe some of the favorites would be so surprised that they would score some points.

An improvement in the rematch?

If Viktoria just crawls into the block, it will give the opponent a chance to play calmly and without pressure, and that’s what big stars do best. And you bet they’ll find at least one loophole to get into your defense in 90 minutes.

You have to frustrate players of that quality, finish them off aggressively, play on the edge of the foul line, not let them breathe and not give them an inch of space. It’s just that when Viktoria have run a kilometre less as a team than Bayern in the 74th minute, there’s a problem.

She was giving the Bayern players too much space and time and they were thankfully taking advantage. Thus, Viktoria have half of their Champions League performance behind them and the second half ahead of them. Will they learn from their mistakes and be a more worthy opponent in the rematch?

Source: UEFA, FC Viktoria Plzeň