Ukraine - Czech Republic - 1:1. Post-match press conference. Ivan Hasek: "We were closer to victory"

On Monday, October 14, the Ukraine national team played a 1-1 draw with the Czech Republic in the match of the 4th round of the 2024/25 Nations League. Here is the post-match press conference of the head coach of the Czech national team Ivan Hasek.

- The result looks fair for both teams, although we were probably closer to winning. We had a higher xG, we had more scoring chances. We played with high intensity and speed.

Physically it was very hard after Friday's match, so I have to thank the players for a very fair and responsible game. We have a difficult fight in the group. But four points in these two matches is quite good. Although, of course, it could have been better.

After the home match with Ukraine, I felt that the team had a new impetus. That victory allowed us to stand on our feet. Now we need to hold on and not to fall down. Not only in terms of energy, but also in terms of results and decent play.

- In the first round your team suffered a big defeat against Georgia (1:4) a month ago, and now it leads the group.

- Sometimes you need a good slap in the face to cheer yourself up. I believe that the defeat in Georgia gave us the necessary boost, which, among other things, will help us win the group.

- Did you expect the Czech Republic to top the group standings after the October matches?

- We were counting on the fact that two wins in these matches would probably put us in first place. But in the end, four points were enough. The main thing is that we achieved it. Now everything is in our hands, we will not depend on the results of the parallel matches in the group. If we win the remaining two matches, we will stay in first place.

- It seemed that some players of your team were visibly tired in the second half.

- I do not think that we were the only ones who were tired. The game was played at such a pace that it was clear that not only we, but also our opponents would lose strength. We had planned substitutions at halftime, but the guys said they could keep playing.