Even during the summer break, we don't let the goalkeeper rest. The next guy who took part in our interview is a huge talent, a representative, and above all, a great guy, Martin Jedlička.
Hi Martin,
despite your age, you are a fully professional goalkeeper, a youth representative, and
great things are expected from you in the future. How do you feel about all of this?
Honestly, I don't think people expect great things from me. For many, I might be an unknown name, and they might only learn about me over time. Through hard work, I want to make progress, I constantly try to push myself and improve.. Currently, my goal is to consistently play in the league within a year and a half. Even though it might be a confident goal, I know it will take my career much higher. I would also like to make a name for myself in the U21 national team, even though there is a lot of competition there.
You played your last season in Dunajská Streda. What was the transition to Slovakia like?
Did you have to get used to the new environment a lot?
Dunajská Streda has great facilities, everything is at a top level, so everything went smoothly and I adapted beautifully to the local conditions, the training environment is excellent, everyone has an amazing attitude towards the team and football in general. Although I didn't know anyone when I arrived, I quickly got along with Patrik Macej, he is also a goalkeeper, comes from Ostrava, born in '94. You could say we are like partners, we share a room and as goalkeepers, we just stick together.
Even though you have had huge success in the UEFA Youth League, I think many people don't even know about such a competition. Can you tell us not only about its format but also about your journey to success?
The only problem is that Czech teams don't have much success in this competition, which is why people often don't even know about it. You could say it's a youth format of the Champions League. The winners of youth competitions qualify for it, and it features both group and knockout stages. We managed to win a historic title with Příbram, we eliminated CSKA Moscow in front of a full stadium and made it to the quarter-finals, where we unfortunately lost to Benfica Lisbon on penalties. It's an amazing experience, and every match in this competition is completely different.
How are you preparing for the next season? Do you have any 'vacation', or are you working non-stop?
Of course, I have a vacation, I switch off for at least 10 days over the summer to take a break from football and everything around it. During that time, I try to spend time with my girlfriend, we go on vacations or just hang out together. I spend a lot of time with my family and friends, who recharge my energy. After 14 days off, our preparation starts again and everything begins anew.
Do you have plans for where your future career will head? Would you prefer to stay in the Czech Republic, or try a position abroad?
I don't see it that way. The only thing I want is to play. Abroad is obviously a bigger challenge, but my priority right now is to get regularly between the posts. I simply want to play in big matches. My dream is to play matches at Sparta, Slavia, or in Plzeň, but I can't plan anything, football is unpredictable, including transfers, so I focus solely on working at 100%.
You also have the U19 Euro behind you in Georgia. Can you tell us which match in the tournament you remember as the best?
The best match was definitely the last one in the group – against Georgia. It was a do-or-die situation, we needed to not concede a goal and Georgia needed to win. There were 30,000 people there, the whole stadium was chanting. In the end, I fulfilled my pre-match task, we won 2:0. Even though it was one of my toughest matches, I remember it fondly.
Do you dedicate your free time to any hobbies or interests?
Like every footballer, I play on the PlayStation, my favorites are FIFA and NHL. I regularly watch hockey, especially the overseas leagues, and I occasionally play tennis. Otherwise, I think it's nothing unusual, I do what almost every guy my age does.
You are one of the first to wear the BU1 gloves. How did you come across them?
Honestly, I stumbled upon them about a year and a half ago. My contract with the competition had just expired, so I was looking for something new. I was scrolling through Facebook and came across an unknown brand from Opava. I got in touch with the guys and they sent me the first pairs to try out. Since then, I haven't worn anything else on my hands. Next season, I'll be playing again in BU gloves, probably in the All Black model, which I like the most.
Martin, the interview is coming to an end, but I'll ask you one last question. Who do you wish the most to win this year's World Cup in Russia?
I would wish it the most for Panama, as my teammate plays for them. I think Argentina will win it. Even though they didn't do well in the first match, I guess Messi will take it all the way to gold this year.
Martin, thank you so much for the great interview. I wish you lots of luck in the future and I look forward to our next collaboration. Would you like to say something to the readers in conclusion?
Enjoy your holidays, may your favorite win in Russia, and I also wish you that the upcoming season starts just the way you want it. Thanks again for the interview, and I would also like to thank the entire BU1 team for their excellent work. Don't hesitate to try their gloves!
