Antonin Barak, the midfielder who has returned to Fiorentina following his loan spell at Kasimpasa, recently spoke to Livesport Daily. He commented, “I agree that in some aspects I might not fit the typical mold of a Czech footballer. However, I strongly disagree with the idea that I don`t run enough; actually, data from Italy demonstrated that I was among the players covering the most ground in the entire league. But perhaps my style of movement gives a misleading impression, making some think I wasn`t giving 100%. That was never the case; it had nothing to do with effort. In any event, I`m hoping to change that perception now, as I`ve focused a lot on this aspect in my training, and I`m aiming to improve. I`m eager to see if the fans will notice a difference.”
Reflecting on the controversial red card he received during a crucial match at last year`s European Championship, Barak described it as “From a sporting perspective, the worst moment of my career. It was a very significant match for everyone – for us players and for all Czech supporters. For the next two or three months, the media continued to discuss it, and what truly bothered me was how it affected my loved ones. I really couldn`t have picked a worse time for that to happen.”
Barak also addressed losing his spot in the national team since moving to Turkey: “I absolutely did not want to go there initially, but I was told over the phone to try it, and that if I played, I would still be considered. I did go to Turkey, but since then, I haven`t been called up to the national team. It was the coach`s decision, which I fully respected. However, when he explained in the autumn that it was because I wasn`t playing much in Turkey, I accepted his reasoning, even though I didn`t agree internally.”
Summarizing his experience at Kasimpasa, he stated: “Around the New Year, my personal trainer and I decided to disregard the current season entirely, stop worrying about minutes played, and dedicate all our time to personal growth, training diligently to reach peak physical condition for the upcoming season, ensuring I could arrive at Fiorentina this summer in optimal shape. I essentially put the team in Turkey completely in the background.”
Now back with Fiorentina, he expressed his ambition: “Ever since heading to Turkey, my goal was to come back better. I have a strong desire to succeed at the Viola club. If I perform really well, I believe they won`t want to part ways with me. On the other hand, I am in the final year of my contract, so this genuinely feels like my last chance here. With Pioli now the coach at Fiorentina, who wanted to sign me for Milan some years ago – unfortunately, it didn`t materialize at the very last moment – I gather I should be within his plans. I missed Italy, and being in Turkey made me realize what I stood to lose and how much it was truly worth fighting for.”
