Slavia coach explains why Super Eagles centre-back Igoh Ogbu was substituted after half an hour

Slavia Prague head coach Jindřich Trpišovský has shed light on the decision to substitute Nigerian defender Igoh Ogbu after half an hour in the 1-1 draw against FK Jablonec in the Chance League.

Ogbu’s withdrawal raised eyebrows among supporters, but Trpišovský clarified that the change was influenced by a combination of circumstances rather than purely tactical reasons. 

"It was a coincidence. Zima was injured and Igoh had a yellow card after a fight with Jaw," the coach explained to the official website of the club in his post-match press conference. 

"Added to that, he was not 100% after the next clash. At one point, out of three defenders, one was injured and the other was under threat of cards. 

"In addition, the opponent had excellent strikers."

The manager emphasized that the decision was aimed at protecting both the team and the player in what had been a high-intensity encounter. 

With David Zima forced off due to a knee problem, Ogbu’s caution left Slavia in a precarious situation defensively.

Trpišovský acknowledged that Jablonec’s attacking quality demanded risk management, particularly with the threat of a second booking looming over Ogbu.

Despite the early substitution, Slavia fought back to claim a late equalizer through David Douděra, preserving their unbeaten start to the campaign. 

While Ogbu’s contribution was limited on the night, Trpišovský’s comments made it clear that the decision was precautionary, ensuring the defender remains available for the upcoming fixtures.

Slavia will now turn their attention to their next match, with the coach hopeful that the Nigerian centre-back can return to full sharpness and play a key role in the club’s defensive setup moving forward.

Wale Adejumo

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