Slavia Praha head coach Jindrich Trpisovsky struck a composed and honest tone after his side’s 2-4 defeat against Barcelona, making it clear that the result did not fully reflect his team’s effort on the night.
Despite ultimately falling short, the manager expressed satisfaction with how Slavia approached the game, particularly during an impressive first-half display.
He admitted that physical fatigue played a decisive role as the match progressed.
“We ran out of energy,” he lamented.
Expanding on his tactical assessment, the Slavia coach felt his players had managed to limit Barcelona for long spells and even caused problems in key moments.
“In the first half, we were dangerous in some situations. We fought honestly with some players. We didn’t allow our opponents much.
“They lost a lot of balls and we were already running out of energy. If we had handled some situations better, we could have continued to threaten.”
Praise for Fermin
When asked about Barcelona’s standout performers, Trpisovsky reserved special praise for the man who ultimately decided the contest.
The Slavia boss admitted that Fermin Lopez had left a lasting impression after witnessing his performance up close.
“Fermin is better live than on TV,” he said.
Hansi Flick, Barcelona manager
Fermin Lopez earned praise for Slavia Praha manager. (Photo by Gabriel Kuchta/Getty Images)
The praise for Fermin Lopez was echoed by Michal Sadílek, who also spoke to the media after the match.
Like his manager, the midfielder highlighted how unusual and effective Fermin’s movement was, especially in decisive moments.
“I don’t think the two goals we conceded in the first half would have been scored in the league. Fermin’s runs behind the defence are incredible.
“I’ve never seen anything like it, and I’ve probably never played against a better player in this regard.”
Sadílek also took time to single out another Barcelona midfielder who caused him major problems during the game.
Drawing from past experience, he explained why Frenkie de Jong continues to be such a difficult opponent.
“The player who impressed me the most? There were several players like that. For example, De Jong, whom I know from the Dutch league, is my nightmare.
“When he was at Ajax, he was my opponent, and I don’t have fond memories of that game.”
Source: Mundo Deportivo