When, 12 months ago, the Rams started a new first league odyssey, with survival without a relegation as their main goal, no one in the Sailors' camp could even imagine that in August 2024 they would have a "problem" how to coordinate the overbooked match calendar, because they are still "alive ” on the European stage!
Just like that, Mornar will play the first match of the 3rd round of qualification for the Conference League tonight in the Hungarian Paks against the winners of the Hungarian Cup Paks (19:XNUMX), as it has already jumped over two European hurdles and is in one of the play-off stages.
Guys Zoran Đurašković they are dreaming with their eyes open, it's only the beginning of August, and they have already played five games - four European ones, recorded impressive results, so unexpectedly, before tonight's duel with the Hungarians, they entered the domain of problems that they have not had before - too many games in a short time interval , insufficient pool of footballers, injuries...
Of course, it's a sweet pain for Đurašković and his chosen ones, because if someone had offered Barani an opportunity like this just a month ago, they would have accepted it wholeheartedly, that's why tonight they will try to "come together" against the toughest European rival so far (stronger than Dinamo Tbilisi and Radniki from Kragujevac, which is logical because it is the third round) win an active result before the rematch.
And the return match is already on Tuesday, August 13 - at the stadium under Gorica, at least that's what it says on the UEFA website for now.
- We will try to 'come together', to play the match as best as we can. As I said before Leskovac and the first match with Radnički, we will try to make an active result and try to fill the stadium in Podgorica again, that is, to make another miracle. I don't need to say how much FK Mornar has done for the Montenegrin football coefficient this season, that we raised the bar very high. I am proud of that, of my professional staff, that for the first time in Europe we represented our football, city and club in such a magnificent way - said coach Barana.
Just like that, the Sailors are relieved - whatever they do in Hungary they have already done a lot, but far from traveling to Hungary to be extras in a movie.
They will try to clean up, although without the injured Dubljevic, the suspended Baošić, with Mitrović and Ćetković who are question marks.
The busy schedule took its toll on Barani, and even the domestic championship game against Otranto on Sunday (1:0 loss).
"Just a few days ago we played a rematch with Kragujevac, on Sunday evening we already had a first round against Otranto and it was really not humane that in that match I put in the team the players who played 120 minutes against Radnički, but our roster did not allow me to I rest them. I also spoke with the sports director of the club to ask the Federation to postpone the 1st round game, not because of the results, but because of the health of the players, but we don't ask much about it and what is there, we had to go to the field - points out Đurašković.
Paksi is "energised" after three consecutive victories - both against AEK from Larnaca in Europe, Ujpest in the Hungarian championship.
"It is really about an excellent team, a real competitive team. They play "direct" football, in the 3-5-2 system, where the main emphasis is on the offensive part of the team. There are a lot of crosses from the side, their mainstays are two robust attackers, as well as two midfielders - points out Đurašković.
Bonus video:
