Buducnost players are ready to travel to Armenian champions Nou (July 8, 18 p.m.) in the first match of the first round of Champions League qualifying.
Although they were the seeded team in the draw, the Podgorica team drew a tough, perhaps the toughest rival: a team that played in the group stage of the Conference League last year.
"The Blues", meanwhile, changed their coach in the middle of the preparation period - Nenad Lalatović replaced Ivan Brnović.
It would be a stressful situation for any team, it remains to be seen how it will affect Buducnost, in just five days. The duel in Yerevan will offer some answers.
In the meantime, after returning from Slovenia and taking a two-day break, the Buducnost players gathered at their camp and through several training sessions, they further got to know the new coach.
Forward Ivan Bulatović, one of Buducnost's best players last season, is "bursting with confidence" in a statement to the club's website.
"The situation in the team is phenomenal! We know that we have a tough match in Armenia, but we believe in ourselves and hope for a result that will leave us in the game for the rematch. We are traveling with the goal and attitude of fighting for every ball and for Buducnost," said Bulatović.
Buducnost players are traveling to Yerevan on Sunday evening, on a charter flight from Podgorica.
Bulatović scored three goals in four games (Vardar, Rapid Bucharest, Mura, Slaven Belupo) during the preparation period.
"We did the preparations just right - good work, quality control matches, a serious approach. I'm happy with my form, I scored three goals and that means a lot to me for my confidence before the match with Noah. Every goal in the preparations builds confidence, and for me it is now at a high level," says the 29-year-old from Kolašin.
A great chance presented itself to the Buducnost players when they were seeded in the draw, but they drew a tough rival.
If they pass - the European summer could last a long time, extending even into the fall (group stage of the Conference League).
However, such projections are far off...
"We talk a lot among ourselves, with the coaching staff, but we are careful not to overload ourselves. We are working phenomenally and I am sure that we will be maximally prepared for the game. We are going to Yerevan to fight for the best possible result, because in seven days we have a rematch in Podgorica, and all we want is to decide in front of our fans," Bulatović is clear.
Noa - full of foreigners, with a new coach, the former strategist of Dinamo Zagreb, Sandro Perković.
"We've heard a lot about Noa, their offense may be their strongest weapon, but we're ready for anything. Our strength lies in our collective spirit and I believe we have a chance in the doubles match," Bulatović concludes.
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