Tipsport Malta Cup: last year’s triumph will not be defended, Czech assistant to Austrian coach Martin Švejnoha sad

When the Austrian club won the tournament last year, the management didn’t hesitate for a moment to accept the invitation to the next year’s edition, which is addressed to the winner. “We immediately said we would participate again,” reveals Švejnoha. “We were very satisfied. The heat, the excellent natural surfaces, the accommodation was top-notch,” he lists the advantages.

But the results did not bring another triumph. “We had a lot of injuries, it is difficult to put together a team for three tough matches in the preparation period,” explains the Czech assistant. “But we had to cope with it somehow,” he understands that there was no other option.

He welcomed the addition of another representative of foreign football – Denmark’s Aalborg – to the tournament. “Every match like this is a great benefit for our boys,” he says.

However, a tying goal at the end of the game took away the chance for Tirol to win the tournament again. “It’s a shame, we wanted to fight for it,” Švejnoha says. ” We want to give our best performance against Olomouc in the last match in Malta , we want to win against them,” he motivates his charges in the duel with their compatriots.

He has been living in Austria for twelve years and has hung his coaching career on his playing career. His tongues are sometimes loose. “In Malta, at the training camp, when I met guys from Olomouc or Trnava and wanted to exchange a few words with them, I started mostly in German,” he admits.

“Last year it even happened to me at the official press conference when I was answering Czech journalists in German. This year I was reminded of it several times,” Švejnoha said with humour.