Football Season Continues Also without the Champions League
The Swedish referee Hansson blew a whistle for the last time and the players could breathe a sigh of relief. Those from Istanbul with satisfaction while those from Mladá Boleslav with disappointment. More than four thousand viewers on stands stood up and thunderously applauded to the participants of beautiful football show. The applause was addressed to the Istanbul players for technically skilful playing as well as to the Mladá Boleslav athletes for tirelessness and tenaciousness with which they continued to attack the opponent's defence even at the moments when the chance of qualifying disappeared in unachievable remoteness after a goal conceded.
"The viewers were fantastic, we thank them for their support which we perceived on the pitch during the complete match very much," said Radim Holub who was deployed in the basic line-up for the second time (in the league match against Slovácko for the first time) after a long-term injury and took over the skipper's duties instead of Kulič suspended for yellow cards.
The head-coaches expressed their mutual respect at the official press conference and the head-coach of Mladá Boleslav Dušan Uhrin admitted that he had believed in qualifying till the moment when Hasan Sas defeated Miller in the 72nd minute. "I stopped believing only after we got the goal," he responded to a journalist's question whether he really believed in possibility of qualifying.
"It was big challenge for us and I am happy that we have managed it," sighed with relief after the return match in Mladá Boleslav experienced football matador Eric Gerets. "We were very nervous at the beginning of the match but I knew after the goal that it will turn out well for us. I wish good luck to my colleague from Mladá Boleslav and his team in next participations in European competitions," added the head-coach from Istanbul Gerets. "I congratulate Galatasaray on qualifying in the Champions League," started the head-coach of Mladá Boleslav Dušan Uhrin his speech in front of the journalists. We wanted to win but, unfortunately, we did not scored in the first half. The match had very good pace, in particular after the break but the fact that the rival was the first to score decided. Then it was not within our powers to win by three goals. I praise my team for not surrendering and struggling till the end, Galatasaray is a very strong team which will certainly play on the top of the table of their group of the Champions League," summarized Uhrin his impressions from the match against the Turkish giant club. "The team is sound, it has its strength and if the players continue in this way, then good football will be played in Mladá Boleslav also in future," emphasized the head-coach and indirectly invited the football supporters to the closest league match in this way. Sparta Prague will come in Mladá Boleslav on Sunday, August 27.
