Rapid from Bucharest, then Brest - even when the June draw in Vienna sent the Budućnosti handball players to the super-heavy group B, it was clear that Bojana Popović's girls would be waiting for top teams from round to round.
Now it's time for a clash with a team whose colors are defended by players like Ana Vjahireva, Poleta Fopa or Melin Nokandi, but also for the first match in "Morača" after the "blues" played in the "Bemax Arena" in recent seasons.
The match of the second round of the Champions League in the handball temple in Podgorica will be played on Sunday from 14:XNUMX.
"We know that we have a difficult season ahead of us, a difficult group, that we will not be the favorites in any game... But what I always emphasize to them - no matter how many top players are on the other side, it is always a seven-on-seven game," Bojana Popović said. , head of the professional staff of the "Blues" at the press conference.
The French representative has more width, a stronger bench, but...
"They will change, it is expected that they will be in a high rhythm for longer, but we will deal only with those players who are on the field at that moment. Likewise with ourselves and that we improve certain things from game to game," added Bojana.
After a difficult summer and uncertainty about the future of the club, Iviona Pavićević and her friends, regardless of the defeat, pleasantly surprised at the start against Rapid in Bucharest. "Blues" played a great 30 minutes, but did not last until the end.
"There was a drop in concentration in the attack where the game was led by young players, certain mistakes that may not be seen from the sidelines, and two such attacks are enough to disrupt the team and for the rival to go from two to plus four. After that, we should go through a few "Let's bring back good defenses quickly, but all that needs to be learned," explained Bojana.
Did the rotation affect the outcome of the second half?
"It's not just about the rotation and the fact that we can't take the match physically... You can play against strong teams for one half, while the rival gets a feel for the young players and what they can do, and then there's a small drop because those players can't work anymore stop until then. So I think the problem is more the creativity and the ability that these players can provide - it's not a problem of fatigue, it's a bit of a quality. That's why it's important that those who enter slowly improve", explained the legendary handball player.
And bad things bring something good
It was expected that this season would bring a powerful team of Budućnost, but after the departure of the main sponsor, many reinforcements also left... However, this opened up space for talents like Nikolina Marković or Jelena Vukčević.
"Already after the match against Rapida, the players themselves started to talk about the match, which was not the practice before - everything that was happening united them a little. I think that the young players who suddenly got a chance will only grow, and there are a lot of them.. On the one hand, something bad happened, and on the other hand, they accepted everything very well and want to take advantage of that opportunity," said Bojana.
Brest is not only Vjahireva, every point is a success
The head of the professional staff of the giants from Podgorica knows very well what kind of rival is coming to the premiere in "Morača", a rival who at the start was better than Vipers.
"Brest has Vjahireva, from whom everything starts, but the others are not bad either, so that she has to do everything for them - we will have to be careful on several sides. We will have a mix of both defenses, because we have such players that we cannot play all 60 minutes let's play 6-0. I think that 5-1 can upset any team if we are stable in that," says Popović.
The once phenomenal handball player who lifted the Champions League trophy six times because of everything that followed the start of the season wants to be realistic.
"We will fight to some of our limits, and we have to be realistic about what those limits are - we know roughly, but we always want to surprise someone... I can freely say that every point taken this season in the Champions League is a great success.. We don't need to lie, we know who we are playing against, but I always have high goals in my head. I just want us to feel that we gave our best that day."
"Morača" brings back emotions
And, Bojana won the last Champions League in the jersey of Buducnosti - in "Morača". Now, after four seasons, she is also returning to our biggest hall.
"Returning to 'Morač' can also bring back emotions, it can certainly be an additional motive if the hall is fuller than usual. I think it's time to recognize the way of working and the youth," said Popović.
In the end, she took a realistic look at the situation on the Montenegrin sports fields.
"I don't understand at all why clubs in Montenegro - not only handball - don't get real support from the stands. Only sport unites people, and every medal that arrived here showed that," concluded Bojana.
Entrance to Sunday's match in "Morača" will be free.
Bonus video:
