Matjaž Kek is not impressed with Šeško, but in his style, he also highlighted others: “We need to talk about how the team helped him after the Euro”

Published on 9. September 2024 9. September 2024

Photo: Luka Vovk / Sportida

On his 63rd birthday, he celebrated his 48th victory as the coach of Slovenia. The perfect gift for his personal milestone was beautifully wrapped by Benjamin Šeško, who scored a stunning hat-trick against Kazakhstan in the second round of the Nations League. Matjaž Kek also spoke about Šeško after the match, emphasizing something that certainly holds true: “Do not underestimate Kazakhstan! They are organized and dangerous. But we dismantled them thoroughly!” Indeed, Kazakhstan was not bad this time. It was Slovenia that was really good. Very good.

The coach from Maribor had very little reason for dissatisfaction this time. “We deserved the win because we were good enough to view the game from a positive perspective,” Matjaž Kek began at the post-match press conference in Stožice and continued: “The atmosphere at the end, in a stadium that wasn’t full, gave us confirmation that we played a good game.”

Matjaž Kek: “They showed him that this happens in life”

The conversation quickly took the expected direction. After all, it’s not every day that someone scores a hat-trick in a Slovenian jersey. Only seven players had done it before… “He proved himself as a great finisher, but both Žan Celar and Žan Vipotnik also played a great game,” said the former Rijeka coach insightfully: “We changed the rhythm a bit, broke the pattern, and in some moments of the first half, when our forwards got into the zone between their last and midfield line, we were really dangerous. Of course, we talk about Beni, but we also have to acknowledge how the team supported him after the European Championship. They made him feel that they believe in him. That this happens in life. When you see him smiling and playing joyfully with his teammates, these are good things. I told you, I had a good feeling because the guys worked well together. I’m really happy with how they responded after the European Championship.”

Slovenia, responding to some criticism

Benjamin Šeško didn’t shine at Euro 2024, and Matjaž Kek knew that it wouldn’t be easy for such a young player to bounce back. “In Leipzig, the people around him took good care of everything. But it’s always a balancing act; it can go either way. But not for a moment was he disrespectful. He remained humble, straightforward, and always challenged his teammates to help him. In sports, it’s all too rare that those who aren’t in the spotlight are mentioned. Beni put on a top performance, but there were a few other guys who made me really happy and proud. This was a Slovenia that may have thrown down a gauntlet to some, responding to the criticism that we only know how to defend and counterattack. On this difficult pitch, we played a very technical game. Congratulations to the boys; they really earned that applause,” Matjaž Kek explained enthusiastically.

Šeško’s first goal couldn’t be ignored, but Kek stayed true to his style. “But how did Celar hold the ball then… And how he laid it off! That cooperation… It was all masterfully executed. That’s why there are so many calls, so much interest from big clubs. But again: Slovenia is not just Šeško, nor Oblak, nor Kek. There were moments when none of us were here, yet Slovenia functioned. I want it to function like a machine, which may not always run smoothly, but we know what we want. We are humble and self-critical, and then, of course, you get a game like this that gives you validation,” Matjaž Kek added.