After the West and the East, it's time for a challenge in the north of Europe - arguably the most difficult yet. In the 3rd round of qualification for the Conference League, Dečić AdmiralBeta football players are visiting the "Bolt Arena" near Helsinki.
The match in the capital of Finland starts at 18:XNUMX, and after the Montenegrin champion jumped the hurdle in UEFA competitions for the first time in history, they are now in a different mood to welcome a new European story.
- Appetites are certainly growing - goal scorer Dečić does not hide, Bojan Matic.
- Our goal is to stay in Europe as long as possible and we do everything to keep it that way - added the coach of the Montenegrin champion. Milorad Peković.
The team from Tuzi was defeated by Welsh TNS in the 1st round of qualification for the Champions League, and after moving to the Conference League in the 2nd round of qualification, they made a surprise and eliminated Dinamo from Batumi.
- We expect a lot even now, we have the right to hope if we play a good game, and I hope we will - even better than it was in Batumi. We hope to pass and we will give our best on that road - Matić is clear.
The guy who arrived in Dečić at the beginning of the year and immediately stood out with goals, the match in Georgia when history was being written had to be skipped because of the virus. Now he is motivated and ready...
- And the team is ready... We worked throughout the week to prepare for a match that will be difficult and demanding, similar to the one in Georgia against Dinamo. I am sure that the team is ready and we will go there to give our best - Matić added.
Matches in the qualifiers have not been a problem for Helsinki lately, as Finland's most decorated club has played in the group stage of the Conference League and the Europa League during the previous three seasons.
- They are currently at the top of the domestic championship and that should not be ignored - said the Dečić striker.
However, this summer, Helsinki is not as secure as in previous seasons - in the Champions League qualifiers, it was eliminated by the Lithuanian Panevėžys, while the first place in the championship was lost to Kups.
- Simple - such a team should not be underestimated, we are talking about the third round of qualifications. We have full respect, but everything is up to us - believes Matić.
The head of the profession also warned that Dečić should not be fooled by the somewhat weaker moment of Helsinki.
- They are certainly not in great shape in the last few games, but that doesn't have to mean anything. It is certain that he will learn from those matches. They have quality and will certainly try to impose it. The fact that they have lost certain games recently, I repeat, does not mean anything. It's just more of a motive for them to come out stronger and try to get back on track and to the level they're aiming for through the double match with us - Peković pointed out.
What kind of match does coach Dečić expect?
- It will certainly be a tough match, but we believe in ourselves and will try to impose ourselves. What's up to us is that through the last games we learned lessons, gained experience, gained confidence just by moving on. We showed that we can play against good teams. We have our own quality. We arrived in Finland full of self-confidence - Peković concluded.
HJK introduced Dečić, he also remembered Tomašević
Dečić is the pride of a small place in Montenegro and a club that made history last season with its first title - with those words, Helsinki introduced the next rival in the Conference League on its website.
The club from the capital of Finland reminds that the team from Tuzi comes from a country with a slightly smaller population than Helsinki, emphasizes that the majority of the team consists of local players, and singled out one of the international players in particular.
- The team includes several players from Serbia and South America, and the Brazilian Augusto Čagas scored an extremely beautiful goal at the start of the Montenegrin championship - remind the Finns of midfielder Dečić's super volley against Sutjeska in Nikšić.
In Finland, they also remembered the stopper of the Montenegrin champion and former representative Žarko Tomašević.
- He lost two matches against our national team recently, and he will remember the second one especially badly when he received two yellow cards in the heavy rain until the 17th minute.
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