A strengthened future, which brought back national team members, current and former, Miloš Raičković i Igor Ivanovic, brought you Đorđe Despotović, a striker with a serious "pedigree", has a chance to separate at the top right at the start of the football spring.
The derby of the 20th round of the Meridianbet 1st CFL, against the second-placed Dečić, who are two points away from the top, the people of Podgorica will play today at their stadium at 17:XNUMX p.m.
Milinković: The champion is not decided
Blues coach Mladen Milinković is, however, as expected, cautious in his announcements - it is only the first round of the second part of the championship, and Dečić has stepped up as well...
"There are no guarantees that someone is an easier and someone is a more difficult opponent, even if it is like that in our championship. The league is equal, we talked about that during the first part of the season, when we witnessed the nuances being decided," Milinković said.
Victory, however, would bring both a point difference and a strong psychological impulse.
"If you beat a direct competitor for the title, it puts psychological pressure on him, but nothing more than that. There were moments when we had the advantage, then Dečić was first, so at the end of the fall we again crossed the finish line as leaders. The match is somewhat more important in terms of points, but it will not decide the champion, because after that there are 16 more rounds and there are a lot of points in circulation", the coach of Budućnost rejects any thought that a derby will be played under Gorica.
The home team is almost complete, only the Brazilian is missing Stefan Almeida.
"We watched Dečić in Turkey, just like they watched us, there are no secrets here. Dečić brought proven and quality players, he has his personnel problems and not all of them will be ready to perform from the first minute. However, they will have the will and desire to win, because that brings them first place. Whoever has more motivation will be more successful. Honestly, the only thing that matters to me is my team, and if it is at the level it knows how to be, I believe in a positive result," said Milinković, who referred to the transfer window, especially the bringing in of Raičković, Ivanovic and Despotović.
"We brought quality players, we don't need to waste words about their capabilities. Raičković is a member of the national team, Ivanovic is still a member of the national team for me, because if he plays in good shape, the new coach will probably give him a chance, Despotović is a player with a great career, he was a member of the Serbian national team... The new players joined a little later and have not yet in the right shape, but they have quality and experience and I'm sure that all three will have minutes against Dečić".
Bajović: We respect the Future, but so do they
A look at the table, the playing staff, conditions and possibilities of preparation, as well as winter reinforcements - all are prerequisites for today's game, which closes the first spring round of the CFL, to be called a derby.
Stake - first place in the first league table, because Budućnost overwintered with two points more than Dečić
There is neither fear nor euphoria in the Tuzana camp after the last training session. It is only known that the coach Milorad Peković he will not be able to count on the attacker Oliver Šarkić and reinforcement in defense, a former national team member Saša Balić.
"We respect the Future, but we are sure that it is mutual. We know that we have to play smart, they are a very high-quality and meanwhile strengthened team. But in our team there is an atmosphere of maximum trust, we believe in ourselves and in each other, we have the necessary self-confidence and we will try to win under Gorica - said the young representative from the Dečić team. Andrej Bajović.
Although a defensive midfielder, he scored three goals in the autumn part of the championship, the favorite certainly in the victory against Budućnost - 2:0, in the second match of the season at the FSCG camp.
The first duel of the 2023/2024 season. year, under Gorica did not bring a winner (1:1).
"I missed the first game because of a card in the second, I scored a goal for 2:0 and I hope for a good game again. The coach's requirements are clear - engaged, combative, smart and not to lose focus, that's the only way we can hope to win. Of course, we expect a large audience and we want to play to the best of our ability. We had maximum good conditions during the preparations, we received great reinforcements and we hope for good results", concluded Bajović.
The match under Gorica has a humanitarian character, because all proceeds from the sale of tickets (price two euros) will be paid for the treatment of a ninth-grade student of the "Štampar Makarije" Elementary School. Anjeline Radovanović, who was recently operated on in Belgrade and whose fight in the form of control and stabilization of her health condition is yet to come.
Sutjeska in Bar - the battle for Europe
The clash between fifth-placed Mornar and fourth-placed Sutjeska in Bar, where the two teams are separated by only one point, can already be called a derby for Europe, and whoever wins will take over 3rd place in the standings.
Barani were great in the first part of the season, they won four points in two matches against today's rival, but now they face a slightly different Sutjeska, with a new coach. Dragan Mijanović.
"A strong opponent, who does not lie to us, who is organized both as a club and as a team", says Mijanović before the match in Bar.
"We should strive for the highest goals, but there are no hiding places - our goal is third place, because Buducnosti's advantage in first place is too great".
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