On three occasions during the Canaries’ tour of London, the Czech international has found himself played through on goal. But the outcome has been the same.
First, against Wimbledon, when Jurasek was picked out by a raking Bruno Alves pass from deep, only for the City winger to hastily fire wide. In the same game, Amankwah Forson slotted him in behind, but he curled over the bar.
Then came the moment that has produced the most debate online. This came in Saturday’s behind-closed-doors friendly against Premier League side Fulham. Again, Jurasek was played through on goal, but his lob was beaten away by keeper Bernd Leno.
In that now viral clip, team-mates are heard shouting expletives and expressing audible frustration that Jurasek opted for the chip when the situation called for a driver.
It is worth making the factual distinction that those groans came from those on the pitch rather than within the dugout. That frustration is likely a sign of standards rather than any other wider story individual to Jurasek.
He wasn’t the only player to squander a chance of high value in this contest. Anis Ben Slimane missed from close range and Dylan Jones fired wide after Paris Maghoma slotted him through on goal in the second half. Those haven’t received the same scrutiny or reaction from the online world.
Of course, it is not just this miss. It is how they slot into the wider narrative that has seemingly engulfed Jurasek throughout his spell at Norwich after a relatively big-money move from Slavia Prague in January 2025.
Matej Jurasek’s misses against Wimbledon and Fulham have attracted plenty of attention online. (Image: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd)
So much of football is binary. You are a hero or a villain, a success or a failure, based often on outcomes. A player either scores or they don’t. A team either win or they don’t. That makes the margin for error paper-thin. The spotlight bright. The scrutiny fierce.
Just as if Jurasek had scored those three opportunities, the narrative flips wildly. Even one would maybe alter perceptions slightly.
He didn’t, and that is precisely why the reaction has been so sharp – but it should not be the only lens to view this from. Jurasek just has to keep going, and his work rate during this period has been clear.
All of which leaves Jurasek at something of a crossroads heading into the new season, but that isn’t as a result of these high-profile misses. That was true before he stepped foot on a pitch before pre-season.
Clement is not a coach who suffers fools gladly. He is not handing Jurasek constant free passes, he is awarding him opportunities in pre-season because he feels there is a player waiting to emerge. If he felt the Czech winger wasn’t good enough, he would be on the list of those to exit. That isn’t the case as it stands.
There have been plenty of positive signs this summer that Jurasek is moving in the right direction.
Matej Jurasek has put plenty of work into rebuilding at Norwich City after a tough opening 18 months. (Image: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd)
He is fitter, leaner and is working harder out of possession. There is an acceptance at this stage that may reduce his spark with the ball as Clement attempts to build a foundation.
For coaching staff, those are often the hardest attributes to teach. Movement, timing and the ability to arrive in high-value areas are traits that tend to underpin consistent attacking output. The finishing, while crucial, is often the final layer rather than the foundation.
Equally, as was the case against Wimbledon, if you strip out the final actions, then there was a lot to like from Jurasek. This was the first time he could be spotted driving past players with and without the ball.
Recent evidence within Norwich’s own walls shows how quickly that narrative can shift.
Big misses don’t equate to a bad player. Just ask Josh Sargent, who suffered ridicule and was disregarded in some quarters when he underhit a shot towards an open goal against Brighton.
What changed with the American? Coaching and time. He added that ruthless edge in the final third and it was something various City bosses pushed hard to create a number nine that would eventually be sold for over £20m.
Matej Jurasek consistently got into good areas in Norwich City’s pre-season draw with Wimbledon. (Image: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd)
In a sense, there is a perverse upside to these misses. All three are similar opportunities. Jurasek is bending a run from out to in to latch onto a ball into space in behind. That has, on three occasions, fashioned excellent opportunities. The job for Clement and his coaching team is to add that composure and ruthlessness to ensure they end with goals.
Last season, Jurasek mustered just 10 shots at goal. Admittedly, he only played just over 400 minutes, but three hit the target. They were, on the whole, low-quality opportunities – so the fact that he is getting into better positions is a positive. Those three chances alone likely carry a higher expected goals than his entire output last season.
Across those three chances alone, Jurasek is dealing with situations that would typically be expected to yield goals at a far higher rate than anything he managed last season. That shift in chance quality is significant. It points less to a player struggling to influence games, and more to one who is now consistently finding himself in positions that matter.
Of course, if there isn’t now growth to converting those opportunities, then pushing him into better positions with a greater consistency matters little.
It is also worth considering intangible elements like confidence, which feels particularly pertinent given his struggles since arriving at City – but it looks more like the technical execution of the final action rather than an absence of belief when running through.
Sometimes, when running through one-on-one, there can be too much time. It is only a split second in reality, but your mind can become clouded with contradiction in deciding where to place the ball. That hesitation can be damaging in showing a clinical edge.
The real test will be taking this pre-season work into the Championship campaign. (Image: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd)
Previously, the conversation surrounding him has been about getting him fit. There has been little discourse about his football capabilities. So far this summer, touch wood, he has been on the pitch consistently and is keeping pace with his colleagues.
The spotlight, while understandable, has sometimes shone too harshly from some. Football is emotional and viewed through a binary lens, but if there is to be a brilliant redemption story, it is not going to come overnight. It will be a slow builder, but Jurasek only turns 23 next month; he is yet to reach his prime.
Pre-season has offered opportunity, but the margins will tighten quickly once competitive fixtures begin. With increased competition for places, those moments will carry greater weight, not just in shaping perception, but in determining selection.
The chances are there. Now comes the harder part: turning them into goals before competition closes in.
