It doesn’t get any better. Jiri Pavlenka probably heard this sentence too often during last season. Werder’s goalkeeper helped to preserve valuable points with some exceptional performances last season, propelling him to him being recognised as Werder’s ‘player of the season.’ These performances raised any expectations set on the Czech goalkeeper and his current performances are currently going under the radar.
“Last year was completely different. I was called into action much more frequently. You cannot compare the two seasons,” suggests Pavlenka. The statistics suggests Pavlenka’s thoughts are true. Only three teams allowed their opponents more chances to score than Werder last season (Hamburg and Köln, who were both relegated, alongside Freiburg). However, so far this season, nine goalkeepers have been called into action on more occasions than Pavlenka.
In Sunday’s match against Freiburg, there were a record 43 attempts on goal with the hosts having 24 shots compared with Werder’s 19. Pavlenka was able to make eight saves, as was counterpart Alexander Schwolow in the Freiburg goal. Schwolow has now made 47 saves in the Bundesliga so far this season while Pavlenka has made 44 saves, the fourth highest in the league. Werder goalscorer Ludwig Augustinsson described the Czech as “Pavlas, our superman” after Pavlenka was able to keep Werder in the match as the Green-Whites secured a 1-1 draw.
Pavlenka has already put in some strong performances so far this season but this was the first performance which sparked memories of last season’s heroics. “Some people have already criticised my performances so far this season. I had a couple of problems physically in pre-season but now I feel really good,” said the goalkeeper with a smile. “I hope that wasn’t my final strong performance this season.”
The 26 year old is never satisfied with his performances. “It can always be better. I have always said this to myself.”
