Former Slovakia Coach Jan Kozak says he resigned because Inter defender Milan Škriniar, among others, went out after the loss to the Czech Republic.
Despite Marek Hamsik’s goal, the Slovaks were beaten at home by their neighbours, prompting the Coach to resign.
Former Slovakia Coach Jan Kozak says he resigned because Inter defender Milan Škriniar, among others, went out after the loss to the Czech Republic.
Despite Marek Hamsik’s goal, the Slovaks were beaten at home by their neighbours, prompting the Coach to resign.
Today he gave a Press conference to explain his decision, and pointed the finger at seven players for going out drinking after the loss: Martin Dúbravka, Michal Šull, Ľubomír Šatka, Norbert Gyömber, Milan Škriniar, Stanislav Lobotka and Vladimír Weiss.
“I didn’t want to disturb the preparation for the Sweden match,” Kozak said, explaining why he was holding the Press conference today.
“But I agreed with the President that it was necessary for everyone connected to Slovak football, including the fans, to know what happened.
“That evening I watched the match against the Czechs twice, and I find out the players went out.
“That was really painful to me, it was as though someone slapped me. And I wanted those players to admit it.
“Training on the second day was at 10 o’clock, I met up with the captain Martin Skrtel and his vice-captain Marek Hamsik and they were surprised.
“So I tried to see if those seven guys would admit to it. I reviewed the game and said that seven players had gone out, and that it was a problem. I looked them all in the eye.
“Dúbravka told me that he was having a difficult time at Newcastle. Weiss said he didn’t know why he was out. Lobotka said he had a tough schedule at Celta Vigo and he needed to relax – which is funny when he plays Saturday and Saturday. Yet when asked about my departure he said that Coaches come and go and he’s a professional.
“We all love him, he’s a player with great potential. Skriniar said the same thing, and I was really disappointed because our relationship was superb.
“I’m pleased with his performances and I’ll still cheer for him, but I also wanted him to take greater responsibility after the Czech game and not leave it all for Skrtel. Šatka told me he’d gone with his friends.
“These seven players did this, how could I react? There were three options. I could have pretended that I didn’t know anything about it, but that’s not my style.
“The second option was to throw them all out, but could I do that? There were four high quality players there who Slovakia needs, I can not imagine the future without Dúbravka, Škriniar, Lobotka, Vlad Weiss.
“So I decided to step down. I called the President and told him, but I didn’t tell him why because these players are his children and it would have hurt him.
“I didn’t want to go to Sweden with these players and smile.”
Ján Kováčik, the head of the Slovak FA, said the players in question wouldn’t receive their reimbursements if they’re called-up to the next squad, with the money instead going to the SFZ Foundation and the Slovak International Foundation.