Ujfalusi: “We have to make it to Europe in any way; it would be a failure if we don’t”
“We’ve really improved in a team defence”
Tomas Ujfalusi spoke at a press conference before his national team, the Czech Republic, takes on Spain in Granada, about the match against Real Madrid, on which there still remain issues topics to discuss.
To begin, the fixture between Spain and the Czech Republic was the first topic of discussion for Atlético de Madrid’s Czech defender. 'For us, it’s not a vital match because we know that Spain will clearly pass as first in the group. We need to earn points against the other teams. Our national team has to prepare for other games, although grabbing a point would be good.”
Regarding which team Spain will come up against on Friday, he said that “we have a national team with very interesting players. They’re all playing outside of the country and several are very important. It’s not the same national squad that we had three or four years ago when we had Koller, Nedved, Podolski, etc. Many goals have left and we have to build a new team. This national team is being formed.”
Ujfalusi retired from the national team and has no regrets, which he explained in the Cerro del Espino press room. “I left the national team two years ago and it was a very good decision. I have two more years of football left. I prefer to end like this, training with the squad and weekends like this give me life.”
He doesn’t think that the defeat at the hands of Real Madrid is going to take a toll on the ‘rojiblanco’ club. “I believe that we played a good game against a very strong opponent. We can’t think that it hurt us. We have to turn the page, get ready for the next match and not focus on the past. We had several very good chances against Madrid, but that’s in the past and we have to prepare for our next game.”
He doesn’t think that the back-heels from Cristiano Ronaldo are a provocation. “It’s football. When you’re playing a match, lots of things can provoke you. I get provoked by the referee doing a poor job. Everyone has a different reaction. That’s football for the people who come to see a show.”
He stuck up for the team’s defence, stating that “I don’t think that it’s tougher to be a defender. We’ve really improved in the defensive aspect as a team from one point to another. When I arrived, we defended with four, and now we’re making a very big effort with the midfielders, wingers and strikers.”
He believes that the team has to qualify to play in European competition, although he hasn’t looked at the numbers. “I don’t want to only play from Sunday to Sunday. We have to make it to Europe in any way possible. If we don’t, it would be a failure. But we’re only thinking about the next match. We have to earn the largest number of points possible.”
To begin, the fixture between Spain and the Czech Republic was the first topic of discussion for Atlético de Madrid’s Czech defender. 'For us, it’s not a vital match because we know that Spain will clearly pass as first in the group. We need to earn points against the other teams. Our national team has to prepare for other games, although grabbing a point would be good.”
Regarding which team Spain will come up against on Friday, he said that “we have a national team with very interesting players. They’re all playing outside of the country and several are very important. It’s not the same national squad that we had three or four years ago when we had Koller, Nedved, Podolski, etc. Many goals have left and we have to build a new team. This national team is being formed.”
Ujfalusi retired from the national team and has no regrets, which he explained in the Cerro del Espino press room. “I left the national team two years ago and it was a very good decision. I have two more years of football left. I prefer to end like this, training with the squad and weekends like this give me life.”
He doesn’t think that the defeat at the hands of Real Madrid is going to take a toll on the ‘rojiblanco’ club. “I believe that we played a good game against a very strong opponent. We can’t think that it hurt us. We have to turn the page, get ready for the next match and not focus on the past. We had several very good chances against Madrid, but that’s in the past and we have to prepare for our next game.”
He doesn’t think that the back-heels from Cristiano Ronaldo are a provocation. “It’s football. When you’re playing a match, lots of things can provoke you. I get provoked by the referee doing a poor job. Everyone has a different reaction. That’s football for the people who come to see a show.”
He stuck up for the team’s defence, stating that “I don’t think that it’s tougher to be a defender. We’ve really improved in the defensive aspect as a team from one point to another. When I arrived, we defended with four, and now we’re making a very big effort with the midfielders, wingers and strikers.”
He believes that the team has to qualify to play in European competition, although he hasn’t looked at the numbers. “I don’t want to only play from Sunday to Sunday. We have to make it to Europe in any way possible. If we don’t, it would be a failure. But we’re only thinking about the next match. We have to earn the largest number of points possible.”