Chovanec excited by Czech duo

Posted Thursday, October 01, 2009 by PA

Sparta Prague coach Jozef Chovanec is looking forward to coming up against two Czech players when his side face FC Copenhagen on Thursday.

Sparta make the trip to Denmark for their Europa League Group K game with one point in the bag, from a 2-2 draw with PSV Eindhoven in which they twice gave away the lead.

Copenhagen are not even that well off having slipped to a 2-0 defeat at Cluj in their first fixture.

But they are an improving side, having moved into the top three of the domestic SAS-Ligaen at the weekend with a 2-1 win against AaB - with the help of their Czech players Libor Sionko and Zdenek Pospech, who joined the club last year after a spell with Sparta.

And Chovanec is expecting his side to face a stiff test.

He told told www.ctk.cz: "They're a strong, athletic and well-prepared side, who play well as a team and gamble on an attacking style.

"They have at their centre two Czech players, and Pospech is starting to play regularly and well."

Sparta have struggled for goals this season, having netted just eight times in nine Gambrinus Liga games.

Chovanec is not unduly concerned, though.

"The performances of our attackers have been caused by the fact that they weren't 100% fit," he said.

Midfielder Kamil Vacek feels his side may have more joy on the continental stage.

"On the European scene it's really different," he said.

"The opponents aren't like in our league. They want to play football, which suits us."

Juraj Kucka, Manuel Pamic and Igor Zofcak are all doubtful.

Long-term injury victims George Kladrubsky and Patrik Berger are also absent, as are several players who are at the Under-20 World Cup.

Thomas Kristensen is back in the picture for Copenhagen after spending a period on the sidelines when coach Stale Solbakken was not satisfied with his efforts.

The Denmark international recognises he was not at his best.

He told www.sporten.dk: "I made it easy for Stale bench me, and that annoys me."

A foot injury to captain Hjalte Norregaard has let him back in, though, and he said: "I have no doubt that I'll find my form from last season again. It will come."