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Former Manchester United goalkeeper Matej Kovar has described what precisely went down with Erik ten Hag, who let him go on two events.
Kovar’s time at United
Kovar spent five-and-a-half years at United, having joined the membership in 2018 from his hometown crew 1. FC Slovácko within the Czech Republic.
He made his debut for the Below-18s in a 4-1 win over Everton shortly after his arrival and went on to determine himself as an everyday within the aspect. He superior via the ranks and was an unused substitute for a senior Europa League sport in opposition to Astana in November 2019.
The shot-stopper was included in United’s closing Premier League squad for 2021–22, however he by no means made a aggressive first-team look.
Throughout his time at Outdated Trafford, Kovar was despatched out on mortgage to Swindon City, Burton Albion and Sparta Prague.
He helped Sparta win the league, incomes himself the Czech First League Goalkeeper of the Season award. Kovar featured in United’s pre-season friendlies in 2023. He got here on for the second half in a 2-0 win vs. Leeds United and performed all the 90 minutes in opposition to Lyon in Edinburgh, protecting a clear sheet and catching the attention together with his calm and composed efficiency.
Regardless of this, Ten Hag nonetheless elected to promote Kovar. United’s signing of Andre Onana and Altay Bayindir meant there was little probability of him breaking into the primary crew. He sealed a swap to Bayer Leverkusen and helped them win the Bundesliga title.
Kovar and Ten Hag’s paths briefly crossed in Leverkusen when the Dutch coach was appointed as Xabi Alonso’s substitute. Ten Hag took cost of simply three aggressive video games earlier than Leverkusen fired him.
Chatting with ESPN, Kovar revealed that Ten Hag had no affect on his departure from Leverkusen to PSV Eindhoven. Actually, the pair by no means even talked.
Kovar makes Ten Hag revelation
ESPN requested Kovar whether or not Ten Hag was liable for his sale to PSV. The 25-year-old answered, “No, I don’t assume so.”
“I feel my future was determined actually earlier than he really got here to the membership, you recognize.”
“So, as you talked about earlier than, I knew I wished to go play as a result of the final season I wasn’t actually an everyday starter on the membership and, on the age I feel I used to be 24, 25.”
“So, I knew the following step might be someplace the place I wished to play and wished to indicate what I’m able to. So, that was all the time my goal. So, I didn’t even actually meet him at Leverkusen.”
It’s been nothing however upward trajectory for Kovar since his transfer to PSV. With a commanding 19-point lead over Feyenoord, he’s effectively on his method to successful the Eredivisie title as first-choice keeper.
He has made 24 top-flight appearances, protecting six clear sheets in that interval.
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