Jindřich Trpišovský says Slavia Prague need almost everything to go right if they are to beat Fenerbahce and end a long run without a European win. The Slavia coach is heading into the Champions League match with his team carrying 17 straight matches without victory in Europe and a 21-match drought in the main phase of the competition.
That is why Fenerbahce Vs Slavia Prague is being searched now: Slavia are not just trying to win a game, they are trying to stop a slide that has started to take on the shape of a record they do not want to approach. Trpišovský said the streak is on his mind more than before, though he tried to keep the focus on the pitch rather than the numbers. He said the result will be decided only by what happens in Istanbul, not by budgets, reputation or expectation.
Trpišovský was blunt about the gap between the sides. He said Fenerbahce has the stronger options in the squad and the stronger financial base, while also calling the Turkish side the clear favorite. But he added that football can still cut across those differences. In his view, Slavia need a strong team effort and strong individual performances from all 11 players, because one player dropping below full level can leave them without a chance.
The coach’s warning carries weight because the pattern is already harsh. Slavia lost 0:2 to Sabahu in Baku a week earlier, a result that did nothing to ease concern around their European form. Against major sides, Trpišovský said, everything has to come together. If it does, he believes Slavia can still compete, even if the margin for error is almost nonexistent.
There is also recent history in Slavia’s favor, and against it. Slavia beat Fenerbahce 3:2 in Istanbul in February 2022 in the first leg of the Europa Conference League knockout phase, but Fenerbahce returned the favor with a 2:1 win at Eden two years ago. Trpišovský called it the fourth meeting between the clubs in recent times and said he hopes for another good match, noting that the previous three were all competitive.
For Trpišovský, this trip is personal in a small but telling way: he said he is in Istanbul for the first time, after missing the away match because he had covid. He also spoke about the scale of the setting, saying he has long heard about the atmosphere and that he grew up watching Fenerbahce and its steep stands on television. He added that the side he is facing now looks changed and, in his view, is the strongest Fenerbahce squad he has seen.
That leaves Slavia with a simple but severe task. They have not won in 17 European matches, and they have not won in 21 matches in the Champions League main phase. Fenerbahce, meanwhile, come in after a 1:1 home draw with AS Řím and in a stadium that holds just under 50,000 spectators. If Slavia are going to change the direction of their European season, this is the night that has to start it.
