Exclusive: Tijani Confident Dukla Prague Can Build on Survival Momentum against Teplice

After consecutive defeats, Pavel Sustr’s team strengthened their chances of staying up with a gritty 2-1 win over Mlada Boleslav last time out, thanks to key strikes from Kevin-Prince Milla and Dantaye Gilbert.

Encouraged by the vital result, the Nigeria international described the victory as a huge morale booster for the group after a tough period.

"The win against Mlada Boleslav was extremely important for us and key to lifting our confidence. It was a hard game, and we are pleased to have come away with the three points," Tijani told Flashscore.

"That result is certainly a turning point for us, and we simply must keep putting in the effort and working hard, which is the most crucial thing.

"Now, we are looking ahead to the next fixture against Teplice, and we hope to take that winning mentality into the match. 

"We have belief in ourselves, and if we keep that belief, then we can definitely reach our objective. We are taking things one game at a time, and I truly think we can avoid relegation.

"At this stage of the season, it can be difficult because the players are tired, but we just need proper recovery and then prepare ourselves for the challenge ahead."

Despite the club’s recent poor run of results, the former Red Bull Salzburg midfielder revealed that the team's mentality has improved significantly in recent weeks, with every player totally committed to helping the club stay up.

Tijani also admitted that the relegation battle holds personal importance for him, as he has never been relegated in his professional career.

"What has really changed is that we, as a group, have made a strong decision to survive and are self-motivated to keep the club in the First League because that is very important to us," he continued.

"On a personal note, I have never experienced relegation before, and this is very important to me. I do not want to suffer relegation in my career. 

"So, it would mean a great deal to me if we stay up, and by God’s grace, I believe we will. That is exactly what we are working towards right now.

"We know it will not be easy against Teplice because they are a strong side, and playing in front of their home crowd makes it even harder. But we will give it our best, follow the coach’s instructions, and see what happens. I have no worries because I am confident we will get a positive result."

Tijani, who has been one of Dukla Prague’s key players this season, shared his thoughts on adapting to life in the Czech league, the challenges he has faced, and the growth he has experienced since joining the club.

"Before joining the Czech league, I did not know much about it. From the outside, many people think it is just an average league and do not really pay attention to it," he said.

"But when you look at how Czech clubs perform in European competitions, you realise that it is far from easy and deserves a lot more respect. 

"Coming in was challenging at first because it is a different ball game. The league is very intense and competitive, and it took time to adjust to the style and tempo. However, over time, things have settled well for me. 

"Right now, everything is going smoothly, and getting regular playing time is the most important thing for me at this stage. 

"I am enjoying the experience and learning every week. We will see how everything turns out at the end of the season, but I am confident and focused on finishing strongly."

After Saturday’s clash against Teplice, Dukla Prague will return to Stadion Juliska to host Banik Ostrava on May 23rd.