We interpreted the historic appearance of Slovan Bratislava in the Champions League

Strong interpreting team with a drive for the goal

Every football match requires strategy and it is just as true in interpreting as on the pitch. We started the preparations a week before the kickoff. Not with boots on our feet – with the line-ups of both teams instead. We checked the names of the players, coaches and the coaching staff to avoid any blunders.

About two days before the interpretation, more details were coming in. The exact times for the pre-match interviews were not finalised until the teams arrived in Bratislava. Every day could bring a change, so we had to be ready to react quickly. The schedule was fine-tuned on the go, often even the day before the match.

Unlike regular football press conferences, where consecutive interpreting with whispering is used, the interpreting was done simultaneously. The reason is the strict UEFA requirements for the Champions League. Thanks to interpreting technology, foreign journalists, team members and fans could rest assured that the responses of coaches and players would be presented exactly as they were said.

Interpreted matches and language combinations:

• ŠK Slovan Bratislava – FC Midtjylland (Champions League qualifying round)
   Language combination: Slovak → Danish → Czech

• ŠK Slovan Bratislava – Manchester City (Champions League group stage)
   Language combination: English ⇄ Slovak

• ŠK Slovan Bratislava – Dinamo Zagreb (Champions League group stage)
   Language combination: Croatian⇄ Slovak

• ŠK Slovan Bratislava – AC Milan (Champions League group stage)
   Language combination: Italian⇄ Slovak

• ŠK Slovan Bratislava – VfB Stuttgart (group stage of the Champions League)
  Language combination: German ⇄Slovak

We dealt with Danish through a loan from the Czech league

The qualifying round match with the Danish team FC Midtjylland brought an unexpected twist to the situation. Simultaneous interpretation between Slovak and Danish proved to be a complication, as there is no suitable Slovak interpreter specialising in sports terminology for this language combination.

We therefore proposed a solution to the client through interpretation from Slovak to Danish and from Danish to Czech. We found an experienced Czech interpreter who was available on the day of the match, and the client approved this strategy.

Although the interpreter had years of experience with football press conferences, these are mostly interpreted consecutively in combination with whispering. She hadn’t done simultaneous interpreting for some time, so we arranged a technical rehearsal on site before the match. She tried the interpreting technique, recalled the rhythm of simultaneous interpreting and was ready to go. She managed the performance without the slightest hesitation, and according to the client, the result was excellent.

Since the interpreter was traveling back to the Czech Republic the same evening after the match, she requested the option of having a driver with her. She wanted to fully concentrate on the performance and return home safely. We arranged everything in advance, including accommodation for both and a match ticket for the driver so he wouldn’t have to wait outside the gates.

Summary

• The interpretation into five languages went smoothly thanks to thorough preparation, a mastery of football terminology and experienced interpreters who managed every match from the initial press conference to the last sentence after the game.

• Many things were fine-tuned at the last minute, but thanks to excellent communication with the client, we managed to resolve everything to ensure that the interpreters could focus on their performance and the client was satisfied.

• We resolved the complication with interpreting Danish through Czech, found an available interpreter with experience in the football environment and the client agreed without hesitation.