OUR GOAL IS TO REACH THE PLAYOFFS

Several months have passed since the end of the last KHL season. How did you spend your time in that period?

At the end of the season I closely followed the preparations of the Slovak national team before the World Championships. I also spent a week at the Championships in Helsinki. I travelled to Bratislava regularly, to meet with the club management regarding the possible squad for the new season. The one holiday I did have was a week-long stay in Switzerland, where I used to be trainer. (HC Ambri-Piotta -  Ed.)

Is that your favourite place?

Yes, it is. I go there every year.

When did you get back?

I got back just before the Golden Puck award was announced, so about two weeks ago.

Peter Mikula , trainer of Extraliga champions HKM Zvolen, beat you to the award of Trainer of the Year.

Yes, I know that; I read about it. What can I say? That’s the result. (smiles)

You mentioned the World Championships. No doubt you followed the performance of your players particularly closely. How would you rate them?

I have to admit that I above all followed three teams: Slovakia, Czech Republic and Russia. I must say that I got the best impression from the Slovak team, where Slovan had a lot of representation. I can say that all the Slovan Bratislava players who played at the World Championships did not disappoint. I’m glad that having played in the KHL gave them something, and showed itself in their performances.

Under your leadership, the team fought its way to the playoffs in their first KHL season. However, we couldn’t match Dynamo Moscow in the first knockout round, losing 0:4 in games. In hindsight, how would you evaluate last season’s performance?

I rate the whole season positively, because we achieved our basic goal. In the first year, we made it to the playoffs. I have to say that throughout the whole season we didn’t have any significant crisis in terms of play, results or scoring. As for the playoffs, we came up against the “worst”, in other words the toughest opponent, with a consolidated and powerful team. But I can say that we certainly didn’t disappoint, even against them.

How did you manage to keep the players performing at such a high level, without significant troubles throughout the season?

Well, above all I think that’s down to the players. As I’ve said before, they approached the first year responsibly, professionally and with great motivation and courage. They retained those qualities throughout the season, and therefore we achieved the result we wanted.

We’re entering our second season in the KHL. Some say that’s the hardest one. Do you agree?

I’m sure that, at the very least, the same result as last year will be expected of us, which means reaching the playoffs. That goal has put a certain pressure on us right from the start, and it’s always harder to repeat such a performance than to do it for the first time. This fact about sport, and hockey in particular, has been demonstrated many times.

In the first KHL season we reached the playoffs. The following season, people will expect not just to reach the knockout phase, but to go a step further.

I’ll always hold on to the modesty with which we started last season, and managed the entire season. In Bratislava, I don’t think we can think, act and perform in any other way. So we’ve set ourselves this first goal – to reach the playoffs – and if we manage to fulfil that, we can look to achieve something more.

The team has been strengthened above all in defence, with the addition of Martin Škoula and Ján Brajčák, while Tomáš Netík joins in attack. What will be their roles in the team?

Two experienced players have joined us – Martin Škoula and Tomáš Netík – who have already shown good performances and results in the KHL. We expect the same from them in our team. Martin Škoula is an experienced player, who plays well in defense, and we expect successful defensive work from him at Slovan. Tomáš Netík has always impressed in the attacking phase, scoring goals, and he’s a dangerous forward. I hope that won’t change at HC Slovan.

Richard Mráz has signed a three-year contract. Do you intend to incorporate him into the A team?

All players who have come to Slovan, whether experienced or young, have been taken on with a view to them making their way into the starting lineup. The same applies to Richard Mráz.

It’s a known fact that you study new methods and techniques for training and tactics. Have you prepared something new for the players this year, something that will surprise them?

Of course, I’ve prepared some new exercises which reflect the current trend in world hockey. Above all it’ll be about training geared towards set pieces, focussing especially on powerplays.

What mini-cycle have you chosen for the team training which starts today? How often will the players be on training duty?

We’ll train three times a day. In the morning we’ll have a 45-minute warm-up – weights, strength training – followed by two hours on the ice. In the afternoon we’ll spend 90-minuteson the ice. We’ll do this until the end of July, regardless of whether there is also a match on that day. We won’t vary it in that respect.

In the Summer we once again face strong opponents from the Scandinavian leagues, Spartak Moscow, Novgorod and both Prague S’s (Sparta & Slavia). Are you happy having these opponents?

We’ve gone for last year’s successful model. I think these are teams that play fast and aggressive hockey, which will test our abilities and options. We’re also pleased to have the opportunity to face Russian teams in the warm up phase, seeing as it’s very hard to get them for warm-up matches.

We start the KHL season with a trip to Donetsk, then move on to Moscow against Spartak, followed by Minsk and finally Zagreb. What kind of opponents are they for getting the season underway?

It’s hard to say. You have to remember that, at the beginning of the season, all teams are full of strength and optimism, which they take into the new season. So the differences between the stronger and weaker teams are really minimal at the start of the season, which we found out for ourselves last year. Zagreb will play a North American style of hockey. They have a lot of overseas players on their roster, so their game will be geared towards them. You also have to count on them being spurred on by their zeal and enthusiasm as newcomers.

You’ve been a trainer for several years now. Describe for us how you prepare for a match. What’s involved?

I get up early in the morning so I can be first to the stadium. I study the notes I’ve made from analyzing the opponents’ play on the video recordings  we have available. They deal with set scenarios – powerplay, shorthanded, positioning of players at face offs, their offense and defense. If a player is injured, we have to pick a suitable substitute, so we select from the options we have available. We have a training session, then I go home to have a nap for a couple of hours. I did it as a player and I do it now as a trainer.

This season over 5,000 fans have bought season tickets. It’s not only a sign of loyalty but also an obligation. Are you ready for the pressure from both the club management and the fans?

Certainly that loyalty, in the form of buying so many season tickets, is pleasing. But as you rightly say, it’s also a responsibility. But it was like that a year ago, and thanks to the interest, enthusiasm, optimism and encouragement of the fans, we did it together last season and I say it now: we’ll need them all the more again this year.

Your message to the fans before the start of the season?

I’d be really glad if they came in large numbers and helped us like they helped us last season. Especially when things aren’t going well for us. It really was the fans, with their positive, optimistic encouragement and enthusiasm, who spurred us on to score goals and achieve success.