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Former Manchester United academy goalkeeper, Ondrej Mastny, has opened up on the difficulties he confronted throughout his time at Outdated Trafford.
The Czech keeper joined the youth group in 2018 however was offered again to his former membership in 2023 after by no means having made an look for the senior facet.
The 22 yr previous now performs his soccer for FC Vysočina Jihlava again in his house nation, making 12 appearances to this point this season.
Chatting with the Manchester Night Information (MEN), the previous United keeper opened up on his struggles throughout his time in England.
“I used to be a bit down after I was in England and never taking part in. However I’ve obtained a second wind since I got here house”.
Mastny was solely 16 years previous when he left his homeland in quest of making it at Outdated Trafford.
Nevertheless, catastrophe struck as he was injured early on in his debut season and did not make a robust first impression on the membership like he dreamed of doing.
“It was exhausting as a result of it’s a new nation, new group, new atmosphere and new individuals,” he mentioned. “I’m not the kind of one that the room is for them. I’m not the man who simply speaks to everybody, particularly after I was 16 and didn’t converse the language”.
“I hoped to play video games and present what I can do on the pitch, which sadly I couldn’t. I used to be unhappy after that season, I didn’t obtain what I wished to attain. The following season was higher, I performed nearly all the things however then Covid got here.”
Mastny couldn’t journey again to his house nation in the course of the pandemic and lived with a bunch household throughout that tough time.
Nevertheless, the second season went significantly better earlier than Covid, as he turned a daily for the Underneath 18 and Underneath 21 groups, performed within the UEFA Youth League, FA Youth Cup and Soccer League Trophy. He additionally had the chance to coach with legendary United keeper, David de Gea.
Talking on the expertise he claimed, “it’s all the time good to have somebody like him to help and encourage you. They (the primary group goalkeepers) tried to assist me and I attempted to be taught”.
The 22 yr previous was additionally pleased with his means to bounce again from a difficult first yr and asserted, “I believe I did properly to return by way of the accidents and setbacks and the second season was nearly a reward for it. Enjoying Youth Cup, Youth League, PL 2 and all these issues. Being with the primary group It’s a nice expertise I might always remember”.
The keeper had the prospect to remain at United final summer time however a mix of lack of taking part in time and an opportunity to return house to his household was simply an excessive amount of to show down.
“It positively wasn’t straightforward (to go away),” he added. “I used to be occupied with it so much however I used to be uninterested in not taking part in. I used to be away from household and associates and all I wished to do was play. I wasn’t taking part in a lot and that was my essential focus”.
Mastny now has the ambition to play his half in bringing his present facet to the primary division within the Czech Republic and make it again to one among Europe’s prime leagues within the long-term future.
His confidence stems from the expertise that he had collected from his time in Manchester.
“I really feel extra assured, 100 per cent. I’ve been at United so you will have that factor the place you might be good at taking part in soccer! I’ve been my very own since I used to be 16 in a special nation, it made me stronger. I went by way of accidents and a few exhausting occasions. I imagine in myself”.
It’s clear that the overwhelming majority of gamers who play at youth stage for United won’t ever make it on the membership, however the Pink Devils have a proud custom of their gamers occurring to have profitable careers elsewhere, even when they don’t make the grade at Carrington. Hopefully, Mastny does discover his manner again to a better rung on the soccer ladder within the not too distant future.
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