Real Betis is played tonight in the Czech Republic, against Mladá Boleslav, a good part of their chances of achieving a direct ticket to the round of 16 of the Conference League final. There, the green-and-white expedition has reunited with an old man known as Alois Grussmann, one of the three Czech players who were active in the group of thirteen bars in the distant 91/92 campaign, together with Michel Bilek and Roman Kukletawith the Slovak Josef Jarabinsky on the bench.
After his time at Heliópolis that season, in which he scored 8 goals in 38 games in the Second Division, Grussmann returned to his country and remained active until 2011, with a brief hiatus in Austria, until he hung up his boots at the modest Fotbal. Trinec. Then it began a career as a coach that he abandoned to become a sports director; first at the head of Opava and since 2020 at Banik Ostrava.
“It’s a quieter job, I’ve done well at Banik and the team finished fifth in the last year. I look for talent throughout Europe, I try to see what players are on the market,” he said about his new role in an interview. in the diary ASwhere he joked about which player he would take from Betis if he could: “Andor I would sign Joaquín. He’s still young to play here. It is difficult to highlight players from your squad. Bartra, Isco, Lo Celso… I would have liked to play with them. On the field my best friends were always those who were capable of providing assists and finding me in spaces.”
Regarding the clash against Mladá Boleslav, the former Betic player is clear that his level is far below what the green and white team should offer. “It is a mix of experienced players like Ladra, with young people who have everything ahead of them. There is a footballer like Kucej who is very talented and fast, he plays for the national team. It is a strong team here, but they have a difficult time playing in three competitions .Does not have as many players as Sparta and Slavia. It is difficult for him to win. Betis is another level. But you must be prepared to compete here. “It won’t be easy,” he said.
He wants Betis to win the Conference League
In his case, he has no doubt which team he will be with tonight at the Metsky Stadion. What’s more, he is confident that his former club can win its first European title this year. “It is at least one of my wishes; mine and my family. We hope it can happen. Why can’t he win? There are problems with the forwards, but if he has good days he can surely aspire to everything. Must enjoy in Europe. You must fight for every ball and it will be the way. There is a very experienced coach, With Pellegrini a step was taken to another level. He no longer only plays in the League, but also in Europe for the fourth consecutive year. “You must follow this path,” he stressed.
Looking back, Grussmann also admits that perhaps he should not have packed his bags so soon, longing for his life in the capital of Seville. “It was an incredible experience, in football and in personal life. It left me very marked that period. The fans were very close and kind to the team, as if they were just another player. There was only one goal missing to go up to First Division, it was the only thing that left me a little sad. That tie against Deportivo… But it was a year that I always remember with enthusiasm. I wanted to stay, but the situation was difficult in the team and that’s why I decided to return to the Czech Republic. I always thought to this day that maybe it was a bad decision. Then the situation changed. “I had signed for four years, but it was not an easy moment,” he said.