Manchester United loanee Matej Kovar gives honest assessment about poor debut at new club
Manchester United loanee Matej Kovar was unhappy with his debut for his new side. The goalkeeper is on a season-long loan at Sparta Prague after leaving the Red Devils temporarily this summer.
The 22-year-old keeper was straight up put into the starting line-up, but his debut did not go according to plan. Speaking to Sport.cz (Manchester Evening News), the Czech Republic Under-21 international gave his assessment.
“That’s not how I imagined the first match. I take the second goal on myself, it passed between me and Casper [Hojer]. I was nervous, but the boys helped me, I went to the pitch with a clear head. Seven minutes before the end, it was naïve on my part. I should have kept the ball, driven the boys forward.”
Kovar had a debut to forget as the goalkeeper was booked in the 20th minute, while his side let a two-goal lead slip in the Fortuna Liga.
However, his new manager Brian Priske does not think in the same way and was more than happy to overlook his new goalkeeper’s debut.
“He is an excellent goalkeeper with a great future. We brought him in, in the last minutes of the transfer window with the sole intention of playing. We made such a move because we are convinced that he is a better goalkeeper than the ones we have had so far. It is clear that he did not have optimal conditions for the first match.”
Priske’s words will come as encouragement to the young keeper who has previously spent time at Swindon Town and Burton Albion on loan. This is third loan spell and he will look to impress.
It is nice to see the keeper accept his mistakes. It shows his maturity level and there is no doubt that he will impress in the next game. Sparta will host Banik for their next match and Kovar is likely to start.
Erik ten Hag will be happy to know that he has a young player with such a good maturity level. David de Gea and Martin Dubravka are the two options for the keeper post at United and both are on the wrong side of their 30s.
Having a keeper at 22 who is out on loan and gaining experience will only benefit United in the future. If Kovar can keep up this maturity and continue performing, it won’t be long before he starts for Manchester United.
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Goalkeepers are often easy targets for criticism. One mistake from them can overshadow a world of good that they do and Kovar must not let this match influence his mindset for the season that lies ahead.
