Coaches about Malta: We are looking forward to good terrain and quality foreign opponents

The coaches of the four clubs that will compete in the Tipsport Malta Cup and will spend a week training in Malta, summarized what plans they have for Malta and what they expect from the preparatory camp.

Michal Gašparík, coach of FC Spartak Trnava

"We are going to this tournament for the fourth time, for which we thank our partner Tipsport. This model of winter training has proven itself very well for us, in Malta we found excellent conditions for training and quality opponents. That is why we will extend our stay in Malta this year. We drew on the winter preparation for the whole year, and maybe that's why 2023 was so successful. We want to repeat it, so we're happy that we don't have to change things that work for us in preparation."

The tournament in Malta ends on January 15th, but Spartak will extend their stay in Malta until January 21st and have another friendly match against one of the Maltese Premier League clubs. Trnava will play the general for the Slovak league against the fourth team of the Austrian Bundesliga, Hartberg, with whom Trnava also met last winter. The match will take place on January 27 from 1 p.m. at the Anton Malatinský Stadium.

Manuel Ortlechner, sporting director of FK Austria Vienna

"We are delighted to have been invited to the Tipsport Malta Cup. In three test matches, we will be able to compete with quality foreign opponents. In Malta, we expect the best conditions for optimal preparation for the spring season during the ten-day training camp."

Václav Jílek, coach of SK Sigma Olomouc

"We are looking forward to the training session and the entire Tipsport Malta Cup. Two years ago we had excellent training conditions in Malta, especially the terrains were really fantastic. I have no doubt that it will be the same this time. We also have a confrontation with three quality opponents. So we should have everything we need for good preparation."

Václav Kotal, coach of FC Hradec Králové

"I very much welcomed this concentration. I believe that we will have a suitable terrain for preparation there. At the same time, we know that we need to work on the organization of the game, so every match against a quality opponent will only benefit us. We have strong opponents there who will test us, which I think is important because we still have a lot to work on. For this, we still lacked the necessary time space in the season played. The last match in Zlín showed us our limits. I haven't been to Malta before, so it will be a completely new experience for me.