Following the 1-2 reversal by Portugal in the first round of the Europa League group stage, Czech national team head coach Ivan Hasek attended a press conference to give an in-depth analysis and summary of the match.
Hasek began by admitting that it was a major regret that he was unable to win the match. He said that the Czech team was close to victory but ultimately failed to capitalize on their chances. Nonetheless, he believes that the team created a lot of trouble for world powerhouse Portugal, which in itself is an achievement worth recognizing.
Hasek was full of praise when it came to Portugal's number one player, Cairo. He marveled at the fact that Crowe, despite being of a certain age, still displays a very high level of athleticism on the field and poses a great threat to his team. Hasek paid tribute to Crowe, calling him one of the most outstanding players in the history of soccer.
Hashek expressed his disappointment over Portugal's extra-time shutout. However, he also realized that the team has to recover from this loss quickly as a crucial match awaits them in four days.
Speaking about his team's defensive performance, Hasek pointed out that the Czechs were forced to retreat in the face of Portugal's powerful offense, which made it difficult for them to maintain control of the ball. He admitted that this was forced by the strength of the Portuguese team, but also said that the team put in a great effort on the defensive end.
Finally, Hasek looked ahead to the next match against Georgia. He believes that even though Portugal showed more strength in this match, he appreciates the dedication and hard work of the Czech players. He emphasized that the team needs to analyze this match as soon as possible in order to be well prepared for the next challenges.
