Tipsport Malta Cup: it’s great to play on natural grass, praises Liberec’s Matěj Valenta

You are at the tournament for the first time. How do you like it here?

I really like it here, we are out of the Czech Republic, where we would be playing on artificial turf. Grass is the best thing that can happen to us in the winter preparation. Whether it’s windy or not, it’s great.

You drew with FC Tirol from Austria. You could have scored, but your teammate Imad Rondic didn’t take advantage of your goal. Do you blame him?

I would have had an assist… But it happens, it’s football. We met in the youth in Slavia, he’s a good striker.

You’re from Slavia, you’re on loan in Liberec. Your parent club announced that they would withdraw you in the winter, but you stayed. Was it a difficult decision?

I was offered to come back, but at the same time I was advised to stay in Liberec and gain experience. For me it is better to play also because of the European U21 Championship, which I am looking forward to.

If Slavia had made it to the spring rounds of the Conference League, would it have played a role?

It would certainly make the decision more difficult. I’m their offspring, so I wouldn’t have to be on a limited roster and would have a better chance to play. It would definitely be more confusing for me.

You were already a guest in České Budějovice. Which one gave you more?

Liberec is a more successful club, they won several titles. Moreover, I have teammates with me who have great quality, like Theodor Gebre Selassie and others. It’s a shift for me. But Ceske Budejovice was also important in my career.

You dare to come up with surprising ideas on the pitch. Is that innate or does it come from development?

Since I was a kid, it’s been based on the fact that I like to play with the ball. But gradually I got lower and lower in the lineup. In Slavia I played at stopper, and at 16 I even played left back. But the coaches knew where I felt best. It’s because I’ve been playing matches, a year and a half in the second league, now the third year in the first. I believe in myself, that’s great. I like to attack.

It’s probably hard to make it in Slavia.

I was pulled up from the senior team to the youth team when I was 17, but the competition was and still is huge. We figured it was better to go on loan.

Do you believe you could reach the European Cups with Liberec?

We’ll go from game to game and see what we have. Van Buren left and with him nine goals. We’ll have to replace him. Hopefully, we can do it. It’s about the team.