The President of the Football Association of Montenegro (FSCG), Dejan Savićević, in an interview with the Bulgarian Sportal, spoke about a number of topics, and he pointed out that Ljupko Petrović is one of the biggest coaches in Serbia and Montenegro.
Petrović was the coach of Crvena zvezda in 1991, when the "red and whites" won the European Champions Cup in Bari.
"Ljupko is one of the greatest coaches from Serbia and Montenegro, one of the greatest in the former Yugoslavia, because we also had Boškov, Ivić, Miljanić, Mladinić, many great coaches. I had a great relationship with him, he worked very, very well during that period. I know he was also here in Bulgaria. I was surprised when I last saw him, because I was in Rwanda as a member of the FIFA board and I met him there, he was working there. We talked, we recalled anecdotes and details from matches that have become the history of Red Star," said Savićević for the Bulgarian Sportal.
Savićević pointed out that he was sorry that the generation of Zvezda, which won the European title, did not stay together longer.
"There are only four or five players left from the team that won the European title. We had a great squad, but we couldn't play Champions Cup games at home. Even Manchester United did not want to come to Belgrade to play the Super Cup, and we could have taken that cup. We won the Intercontinental Cup in Tokyo. That's why I say that I'm sorry that we didn't stay together for another year. Then the war started, then the sanctions... The most important players such as Jugović and Mihajlović could have stayed at Zvezda for a few more years, but they left in 1992, as did Pančev, Belodedić, and myself. Then came four years without international matches for clubs and the national team. We had a great generation that failed to create continuity neither in the national team nor in Red Star".
The president of FSCG also referred to the situation in 1992, when Yugoslavia was banned from participating in the European Championship.
"We were the favorites for the 1992 European Championship, but the war started, the Croats and Slovenians no longer wanted to play for Yugoslavia, nor did some Bosnians. We had a great team with Stojković, Mihajlović, Jugović, Mirković, Jokanović, Đukić... We were definitely candidates to win the EP. It is the most difficult period of my life. When you are the strongest, when you are 26 years old, you cannot play for your national team, until you are 32 years old. It was a terrible blow for all of us that I have listed".
On the other hand, Bulgaria achieved its greatest success in history in 1994, when it reached the semi-finals at the World Cup in the USA.
"What Bulgaria did in 1994, we could have done in 1992 or the same time in 1994 or two years later. I am sure that Yugoslavia could have achieved the same result as Bulgaria in those three competitions".
Savićević also referred to some details from his club career.
"For me, the Champions League final against Barcelona is the most magical moment of my career. We played in Athens against a great opponent, their coach was Johan Cruyff, and the team included Romario, Stoichkov, Koeman, Bakero, Guardiola, Zubizaretta. They were all national team members, and we went to the finals without two great players – Barezi and Costakurta. It was a time when only three foreigners could be in a team. Cruyff motivated us by talking about how he wants his team to play beautiful football and score a lot of goals. We didn't beat them, but ran over them with 4:0".
It remains regrettable that he did not play in the final against Ajax in 1995.
"I injured my hip 12 days before the final, so I knew I wouldn't play, but it was hidden so that the information wouldn't reach our opponents. I regret the most that I could not play that match, I was 29 years old, I was in the best shape since I came to Milan, I could have given a lot in the final. But that's life, not everything always goes the way you want it to."
The FSCG president also spoke about the matches between Montenegro and Bulgaria.
"It seems to me that we are always in the same group. I think you played very well when Krstajić was the coach. I watched your game against Serbia, when you lost in the 96th minute. When we played the game in Podgorica, I said to Krstajić: 'You played very well, but you were unlucky'. And she is also needed in football," said Savićević.
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