Ondrej Mastny has a spring in his step.
The young goalkeeper is back in his homeland having left Manchester United in the summer. While he loved and appreciated his time and chances at Old Trafford, he’s happier back in the Czech Republic with regular football the main reason why.
"I was a bit down when I was in England and not playing," the 22-year-old admitted, speaking to the Manchester Evening News. "But I have got a second wind since I came home."
Mastny moved to Manchester at 16. He didn’t speak English and was far from family and friends. Naturally a quiet teenager, he wanted to make his mark with his performances.
ALSO READ: I was sent off and my world came crashing down - now I'm thriving on loan
ALSO READ: Loving Casemiro and rejecting City - The inside story of Mainoo's journey
Injury robbed him of the chance in his first season, the Covid pandemic interrupted his promising second. Plenty would have buckled but Mastny stood tall and fought on.
He became a regular for the Under 18 and Under 21 teams, played in the UEFA Youth League, FA Youth Cup and Football League Trophy. Training sessions with the first team followed, where David de Gea was an invaluable help with pointers, advice and encouragement.
"It is always nice to have someone like him to support and encourage you," said Mastny. "They (the first team goalkeepers) tried to help me and I tried to learn."
The learning started early, as much away from football as on the pitch.
"It was hard because it is a new country, new team, new environment and new people," he said. "I am not the type of person who the room is for them. I am not the guy who just speaks to everyone, especially when I was 16 and didn't speak the language.
"I was hoping to play games and show what I can do on the pitch, which unfortunately I couldn't. I was sad after that season, I didn't achieve what I wanted to achieve. The next season was better, I played almost everything but then Covid came."
Mastny was away from home, family and friends during the pandemic, living with a host family who he is still in touch with today and plans to visit in the coming months.
It was a difficult time for all, let alone a teenager trying to make his mark in football in a foreign country. Mastny is proud of his resilience to overcome some pretty hefty obstacles.
"I think I did well to come through the injuries and setbacks and the second season was almost a reward for it," he said. "Playing Youth Cup, Youth League, PL 2 and all those things. Being with the first team It is a great experience I would never forget."
Ultimately, with playing time drying up, Mastny opted to return to Vysočina Jihlava, the club he left for United six years ago. He could have remained at Old Trafford, perhaps sought a loan and waited to see if an opportunity opened up. But Mastny was ready for the next chapter.
"It definitely wasn't easy (to leave)," he added. "I was thinking about it a lot but I was tired of not playing. I was away from family and friends and all I wanted to do was play. I wasn't playing much and that was my main focus.
"So far I am playing and doing well and doing what I waned to do so I'm satisified with what is going on."
Mastny, now back living with his parents, has had the benefit of six years at United, with world-class coaching and access to world-class players. It's helped his development and he hopes it will take him from the second tier of Czech football back into a major European league.
"I have a drive in me," he said. "I would love to get into the first division with this team because I came here at 13 .
"I feel more confident, 100 per cent. I have been at United so you have that thing where you are good at playing football! I have been my own since I was 16 in a different country, it made me stronger. I went through injuries and some hard times. I believe in myself.
"That (playing abroad) is one of the goals. The first is to play because if you don't play then no one can see you. The next goal is the first division here and if I am good enough then I am open to going abroad again and trying to play at the highest level."
Mastny is happy at home, but he'd be delighted to forge a top level European career.
