Vaclav Cerny, one of the quality players of Beşiktaş, made special statements to Sabah Spor in the Antalya camp of the Black and Whites. The Czech winger, who was the architect of the victory with the two goals he scored against Fenerbahçe, talked about many topics, from his life in Istanbul to his experiences in the black and white team.
Here are Cerny’s words:
How are your days going?
It’s very simple. I’m in Istanbul with my wife and baby. When I come home, I spend time with my daughter. I learn new things with him. I am both a father and a husband.
The fans wanted you so much in the summer. Can you tell us about the transfer process to Beşiktaş?
“THE ONLY OPTION FOR ME WAS TO BE HERE”
The only option for me was to be here. From the outside, the process may seem to have taken a very long time, but after the official contacts started, it was actually completed in a very short time. I’m glad it turned out. I wanted to come very much, and the people around me knew this too. From my perspective, I can say that I did everything to come. What I wanted came true, I couldn’t be happier.
You left your mark on the Fenerbahçe match with the goals you scored. A special t-shirt was made for you, you became the hero of the derby. How did it feel after this match?
Throughout my career, I have been neither too emotionally enthusiastic nor too low in emotion. You can never see me too crazy emotionally on the field. I am aware that sometimes, even when good things happen, things can turn bad after a week or two. I always have an emotional nature, but I always try to stay calm. I have to say that I am generally a calm person. Of course, it is important to show yourself in every match. I was happy that I scored two goals.
“I CAME FROM THE BOTTOM TO THE TOP”
But it wouldn’t matter to me if someone else had thrown it. Just contributing to the team is enough. I am someone who knows that things can change very quickly in football. You are not always the one who decides in such matches. There are fans involved, the momentum of the match itself and many different variables. To put it another way, I had two very serious cruciate ligament injuries. So I can say that I rose from the bottom to the top. That’s why I take a calmer or more controlled approach at these points.
You say that you and your family enjoy living in Istanbul. How is the city for you?
First of all, we feel safe and at home here. Everything we need while raising our daughter is available in Istanbul. We try not to mix with the crowd too much. Because the city is really crowded, we have to get used to it. The place we came from was quieter, calmer, with fewer people. Istanbul is a much larger and more colorful city.
Beşiktaş experienced different things in the first half of this season. How do you evaluate this process?
I wasn’t here at the beginning of the season, but as far as I followed from afar, it was disappointing to be eliminated from Europe. It wasn’t a good start, then quickly came a change of coach. If I talk about the process after joining the team, me and the team tried to improve as much as we could. We’ve had ups and downs. Towards the end of the first half, we can see this development in a positive sense, both in terms of stability and score, we need to build on this. I know and respect how passionate people are here. Playing well and being important for the team is very valuable.
How is your relationship with teacher Sergen? There is also the issue of number 8. What would you say?
“OUR COACH MAKE THE DECISION IN THE FINAL”
Our relationship with the teacher is good. What you need is to know what the teacher wants from you. As for position, it doesn’t matter if you play right side or number 8. Of course, I have my own preferences, but I do my best in every position. Our teacher makes the decision in the final.
You often talk about your connection with the Turks. How did this bond begin?
I went to Ajax from the Czech Republic to the Netherlands when I was 15 years old. Coincidentally, I met my Turkish family and circle there. My best friend for 12 years has been from this family. It was very important for me to have a family that I was so close to, after my own family. They became like my second family. This means a lot to people at that age, I trusted them. I love Turkish culture.
“I LOVE TURKISH FOOD”
For example, I give an example; I really like crowded breakfast tables. I love Turkish food very much. The environment and atmosphere that people create when they are together is very nice. Every country has its own specific things. There is tea here too, one of the most important. It is a drink to sit and drink at any time of the day and I love it very much.
How did you find the level of the Super League?
“I WAS SURPRISED ABOUT THE QUALITY”
To be honest, I was surprised about the quality. I have to say that every team in the league plays a planned game and has quality players. Frankly, I did not expect this quality. Every team is trying to show this quality, which is a good thing. There are also some negativities about the league itself, but I do not want to comment on these issues.
Your performance increased significantly in the last period of the first period. Was this about adaptation?
Frankly, it wasn’t a getting used to process. In fact, one of the best matches I played was among the first ones I played. Maybe the change of position and position may be related to the game, but I cannot call it adaptation. Sometimes you just have to wait for everything to settle. I know what I can do. I am also aware of my own quality. I want to show this in every match and continue like this.
What is the difference between Cerny on the field and Cerny off the field?
This might be a very good question for my wife. At some moments, I am a person who says what he wants to say and expresses his feelings. I do not hesitate to say that I am uncomfortable or if something bothers me. There is such a production. On the field, I try to be someone who takes action, contributes to the match or has a direct impact on the match, and helps the team by doing unexpected things at unexpected moments.
What is the mood in the team and your second half goals?
The atmosphere and unity among the players is going well. I can say that our locker room environment is also positive. Everything is going well regarding training. We need to keep pushing. We all need to thrive and feel the passion and hunger. We need to continue this in every training, practice or match so that we can get better. We want to continue our development in the second half, get good results and finish the season at the best point. We started the Turkish Cup well and we will try to finish it.
What made you want Beşiktaş so much?
It was a feeling. I actually felt the same way, not only for me but also for my family. I have close ties with Turkish people or people with ties to Türkiye. There are such people around me. Since I knew them too, I thought this collaboration would be good. I wanted to experience another culture, another mentality. Beşiktaş is a very big club, a very big community. I have to say this in terms of his fans as well. It is a great privilege for me to play in such a club.