Slovan Bratislava will arrive in Rome with a derby win behind them and their attention already fixed on the Champions League meeting with Roma. Yaya Touré’s side beat Spartak Trnava 3-0, producing the kind of dressing-room release that can matter before a European trip, while the coach made clear that the next task has already taken over.
The decision
Touré was pleased with both the collective display and several individual performances after Slovan’s emphatic victory. He felt the result was fully deserved and said the mood inside the squad reflected the importance of the occasion.
“I am very satisfied with the team’s overall performance and with a number of individual displays,” Touré said. “We deserved to win, and it is a very good feeling. There were plenty of smiles in the dressing room afterwards. In a way it is a relief for everyone, but we must quickly turn towards preparing for the next match. We fly to Rome on Monday.”
The trip to Italy now becomes Slovan’s immediate priority as they prepare to face the Giallorossi in the Champions League. The derby may have provided confidence, but Touré is looking beyond the local occasion rather than allowing the result to become a distraction.
Sunday’s picture
The 3-0 win over Spartak Trnava also gave Touré his first direct experience of a Slovak derby. The stadium was full by the time the teams warmed up, and the atmosphere left a strong impression on the former midfielder.
“It was my first derby in Slovakia,” he said. “The ground was already full during the warm-up and the atmosphere was excellent. Winning made the feeling even more positive, although I am already thinking about Monday’s flight to Rome and the work needed for the next challenge.”
For Slovan, the derby has closed with a statement result. For Roma, it means a visiting side arriving after a clean-sheet victory, encouraged by its domestic weekend and led by a coach determined to move swiftly from celebration to preparation.
