VIDEO: Hancko sent Sparta to the Conference League with a sample goal: It was a small final – ŠPORT.sk

Thanks to him, the Czech vice-champion fulfilled his role and from the third place of the A-group he fought his way to the playoffs for the eighth finals of the European Conference League (EKL). Hancko admitted that he was nervous before the match, because the “reds” took the duel as a small final, in case of a loss, the Danish opponent would travel to the spring phase of EKL.

“It was a European-level match, a challenging encounter. We knew what we were talking about. We wanted to be strong in defense and dangerous ahead. It worked out perfectly for me and I am very happy about it.” said in an interview for the club’s website the national team defender, who played the whole match.

Hanck’s moment came in the equalizer for 43 minutes into the match, making the score 0 – 1 after some excellent moves on the right side were finished off with an incredibly clever chip. “I told the boys to prolong the wall, I then told Krejda (Ladislav Krejčí, editor’s note) to go behind the wall, that I would shoot it like that, so that no one from the opponent would be there. The goalkeeper then took a step behind the wall and He didn’t get there. After those shots, when I was still trying to cross the wall, it came out of him now. “

It took Sparta a while to get into the pace, then she was getting the ball ahead and she was dangerous. The second goal was added after the break by Adam Hložek, who was the best in the penalty area after the shot of Jakub Pešek. The teams went for the halftime break at 57 minutes into the match.

“Most importantly, we were firmly in the back, we fired, we blocked the missiles, we turned the center away. Thanks to that, we did it,” Hancko emphasized that the atmosphere in the cabin was tense before the match. The team was concerned with a lot. “We knew it was such a small final. Personally, I was a little nervous before the meeting, but we didn’t see it during it. We gave very good performances and we were a team.”

During the week, the 22-year-old defender announced that he and his partner, the Czech tennis player Kristýna Plíšková, were expecting the birth of a child. The goal scored was: “Sure. Actually, it’s quite interesting – we found out we were expecting a baby before the home game with the Rangers, and then I scored a goal in it. Now we’ve announced it and I’ve scored again. I guess I’m lucky now.”

After losing to the Glasgow Rangers, the people of Prague lost the chance to advance to the playoffs of the European League, but Sparta coach Pavel Vrba also takes action in the spring phase of EKL: “We could have been more effective against Bröndby. We had created at least two more situations and could have scored an insurance goal earlier. The moment we played 10 to 10, we controlled the match. I think we deservedly advanced to the spring phase of European competitions. . “

In addition to Hanck, the goalkeeper also played the whole match for Sparta Dominik Holec, in the basic line-up he also joined Lukáš Haraslín, who alternated in the 86th minute. The fourth Slovak legionary in the service of the Prague team Lukáš Štetina watched the match from the substitutes’ bench.

In the second match of the group, the already certain winner of the “A” Olympique Lyon drew 1: 1 with the Glasgow Rangers. “Lyon stood out above everyone, it’s a Champions League team,” noted Vrba. “I’m happy for the seven points we played. We wanted to play cup competitions in the spring as well, but I admit we thought about the European League, we’re a little sorry. But third place is what we did. The Rangers were above us. , “ acknowledged the former coach of Púchov, Žilina and a former assistant coach at the Slovak national team.