Although he is far from a top ten, Novica Eraković has proven that he has not forgotten how to score goals. And what kind of goals - in the 4th minute of the Cypriot championship match in Limassol, Eraković opened the AEL net with a goal that his teammates from Omonia watched with their hands raised in disbelief and only made the frame more beautiful.
In his second season in Cyprus, Eraković plays as a defensive midfielder, but he has proven that this position suits him, although he has played closer to goal throughout his career.
"Both the previous coach, Lithuanian Vladas Dambrauskas, and now Janis Anastasiou want me to play in the "six" position and I had to adapt, especially since I received undivided support from both of them. Both during difficult periods of my career, such as an anterior cruciate meniscus injury, and during an illness in the middle of the autumn part of the championship. Honestly, I prefer to play behind the striker, but I have to adapt to the coach's demands and the team's needs. And as for the reaction to my goal against AEL, I only saw disbelief and amazement from my teammates. I don't use social media, but my teammates have already informed me that the reactions are extraordinary. I play with both feet, better with my right, and from that unnatural position I decided to take a shot with the effeminate, it turned out really well," the 25-year-old from Nikšić tells "Vijesti".
Eraković does not hide that he is enjoying himself in Cyprus, and he has a contract with Omonia for another year and a half.
"From the conditions at the club and the contract, the competition, the relationship... Everything is at a more than satisfactory level. There's no need to talk about the climate, we did the last training session at a temperature of 21 degrees Celsius. It's like summer. And finally I don't have any problems, the coaching staff gave me time to get back into shape, so after a break due to illness I came off the bench in four games, now I'm a starter again, I'm helping the team and everything is ideal," said Eraković, who has scored two goals and assisted on one so far in the league.
Omonia is a real ex-Yugoslav colony. There is a Croat Marić, a Serb Simić and three Montenegrins - in addition to Eraković, Stevan Jovetić and Dušan Bakić also wear the jersey of the team from Nicosia.
"Bakić is back from loan, and there's no need to waste words on Jovetić. He's the best player to ever play in the Cypriot championship. Most of us are on the team," joked Eraković and added:
"Joking aside, the arrival of Jovetić meant far more than a series of goals and assists, it increased the level of professionalism at the club. When you see how he trains and works, then no one has the right to be lazy. I played six games for the national team, but we have never been on the field together in a jersey with the national emblem. Now I see that it is not a phrase when my teammates tell me that everything is incomparably easier with Jovetić on the field. He is not only an incredible class, but also a top professional and a person. Now we work much better, we are much more tired after training and we are eagerly waiting for the derby with the leader Aris on Sunday. It is a very important match for us," says Eraković.
And Eraković played important matches in Montenegrin clubs as well.
"I follow the events, of course. There were many beautiful moments during the games in the jersey of Sutjeska, Lovćen, and again in Sutjeska. I remember the victory over Slovan Bratislava, the title and trophy in the Cup with Sutjeska, which came half a year after the recognition I received for the best player in Montenegrin competitions. These are four details that I am particularly proud of. And of course - appearances for the national team. I expect to return again after that period of absence due to illness. The group we received in the World Cup qualifiers gives us hope that we can do something big," concluded Eraković.
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