« Is your team ready for this pivotal moment?
This pre-season was shorter than usual, but I believe we are prepared thanks to our intensive work. We’re still missing a few key players who could strengthen our squad further, yet the team is in good shape.

How do you assess the heavy pre-season loss to Real Betis (0-4)?
That defeat reflected the typical pre-season adaptation phase, especially with new arrivals. Players like Malick (Fofana), Ernest (Nuamah) and (Loïs) Openda joined us later, so the situation was expected. It highlighted areas needing improvement, particularly with our young attacking lineup who still require time to reach peak performance.

What’s the status of Pavel Sulc and Mads Bidstrup’s absences?
Pavel Sulc is sidelined with a knee inflammation, while Bidstrup has a cartilage issue. I’m hopeful he’ll recover quickly. Sulc returned late after World Cup duty and was eager to play here, but it’s not feasible. Though he’s had an impressive season and attracted interest from other clubs, in our current setup, all players remain valuable assets.

Sparta Prague’s Adam Karabec knows your tactics well. How do you plan to counter that?
Karabec is Sparta Prague’s standout player—freely creative, effective in midfield, highly motivated, and a good person. While we’ll need to guard against set-piece strategies he may have observed, I’m confident in our approach elsewhere.

How does the squad perceive the importance of this double-header (August 4 and 11)?
Absolutely, we’ve discussed the significance internally. Everyone understands the challenges we faced to qualify, and the entire group recognizes the Champions League’s prestige for OL. We must embrace the mindset that nothing is impossible. We have what it takes to achieve this, and we’ll give it our all—it won’t be easy, but we’re prepared. »