Vrba: If we don’t advance, I will be disappointed. I didn’t see Rangers’ spring match with Slavia

Sparta will play their first home game in the Europa League on Thursday. They will welcome Rangers FC to Letná, who have a lot to make up for after their loss to Lyon. Will Sparta tune up for Sunday’s derby with Slavia?

Sparta’s roster is slowly emptying out, with Ondřej Čelůstka and Bořek Dočkal already healthy, while Filip Souček will not be available after the weekend match in Zlín.

“The health of the team is changing. Some players who could not play are already training. The problem are both Krejci. One has blood problems, the other had a torn thigh muscle. Højer has a torn achilles. Soucek was injured in the last game in Zlín, he tore his lateral knee ligament. These four will definitely not,” said Pavel Vrba at the press conference.

The Leten players are not in ideal form ahead of the crucial match. They have won only one of the last three rounds in the league and opened the Europa League group with a draw at the ground of outsider Brondby.

“I clearly said that I want to advance from the group. If I fail to do so, I will be disappointed,” says the Sparta coach.

The six-month-old clash between Slavia and Rangers offered many tough tackles on both sides. Sparta have been dealt a handful of cards so far this season and Vrba is not afraid of the opponent’s rough play.

“As I said, I didn’t see the Slavia game and what was six months ago is long gone. Both teams will want to play interesting football for the spectators, even if it is only for the children’s crowd. I hope that will be the case and that they will play quality football.”

In the squad of the Scottish champion we can find names like Ryan Kent, Alfredo Morelos, John Lundstram, or Joe Aribo, who are led by the famous midfielder Steven Gerrard. And five years ago, Rangers weren’t even playing in the Premier League.

“Which players could be dangerous for us, I’ll say that especially to our players. Steven Gerrard was a great English footballer and I think he is doing a great job at Rangers,” Vrba added.

Source: AC Sparta Praha