Ondřej Kúdela is one of Slavia football's “elders of the family” but you cannot tell on the pitch. He is one of the pillars of defence, he played 18 matches in the autumn. And before the spring, he was elected Deputy Captain of Jan Bořil’s team along with Stanislav Tecl.
This year Slavia is expected to have a significantly “leaner” programme than last year. Did you have to make the preparation easier or perhaps less demanding?
You're right. The programme won’t be so demanding, unfortunately there is only the league ahead of us. Although, this will give us space to prepare more. We’ll use it to try out different game variants. The weekly process will be long enough to prepare for every match. We have a decent lead in the league, but as quick as we gained it, we can also lose it. Of course we appreciate it and we are glad that we succeeded. We will want to keep the biggest difference so that no one can catch up. We want to end with the greatest possible point gain. As for preparation, I would not say that it was less demanding, quite the opposite. I think it was more challenging than in previous seasons, we really felt it enough.
Before Slavia you worked in four first-league teams. What makes the difference making Slavia so dominant at present?
I have to say that the autumn was extremely successful, everything went as it was supposed to. The start was not ideal, it took some time to get used to each other, because there were some people leaving, some interventions. It may seem that we were dominant, but of course some matches were not ideal from our point of view. The biggest difference is that Slavia has the opportunity to buy and choose players that other clubs can hardly afford. When they join, the team is of great quality. Anyone can get in the game. It doesn't matter who plays. Of course, this is also contributed by coaches who select players according to certain factors and believe in the system. The coaches must also try to get their philosophy accross, and if you understand it, that makes it easier. Both in the game and in the team. Then everything is perfect.
Which of the matches of the European League and the Champions League you played last year was most memorable?
All I had the chance to play in were exceptional and every one was about something different. For my part, I appreciate the fact that I could personally meet such large teams. Of course, the Champions League is the best competition you can play, the matches had a great atmosphere and we had a chance to meet really great teams in our group. It was much faster than the European League. If I had to choose a particular match, it would be difficult. But in my head I have a match that doesn't just go away - a match with Seville at home. There was an incredible atmosphere from the start, a desire to advance in the team, and we all did our utmost. Although it was complicated, but the more beautiful was the conclusion, progress and euphoria. The enthusiasm was enormous, and I think that not only for all the Slavia fans, but all who watched it. They must have loved it.
After leaving of some of the old hands you are the second oldest member of the team. Does it mean different preparation, physical rehabilitation, etc. compared to maybe ten years younger boys?
You are right, after Přemek Kovář I am the second oldest in the team. But that doesn't mean I would change the preparation or physical rehabilitation. I'm still the same, doing the same things. It is also possible that it's thanks to all being easy at home, which shows in everything. Of course, when training is more difficult, I will do a few things that I need and that I am used to, but I do not unnecessarily spoil the body, I was never used to that.
In December you played your three-hundredth-league game and you got into the Legends Club. Can you recall any key points in your career?
Yes, in December I came among the players who played 300 or more games, but for me it's just a number. I want to play many more. Of course that will depend on my health too and also because I am in Slavia, where there is a huge competition and I have to perform at the highest level and constantly confirm that I am a valid player. Some crucial moments are hard to pick. Of course, the beginning is important, for example, when you come from a youth team to the A-team. Your career should start to develop in some way, it's important there; it's the moment that starts everything. But otherwise I can't answer at the moment, if something was really key.
Ondřej Kúdela (born on 26th March, 1987) is a player of SK Slavia Praha, where he plays the sweeper or defensive midfielder.
He is an offspring of club 1. FC Slovácko, he started in his A-team in 2005. In the summer of 2007 he moved to Prague Sparta, but for the autumn part of the 2007/08 season he went to SK Kladno. In 2009 he transferred to FK Mladá Boleslav. He played there, with the exception of a six-month guest appearance in Ordabasy Shymkent, Kazakhstan, until 2017, when he transferred to FC Slovan Liberec.
But went to Slavia already in January 2018. Coach Jindřich Trpišovský picked him, and trained him in Liberec.
He played in the U17 to U21 youth teams. He made his senior debut in March 2019 in a preliminary match against Brazil.
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