Dečić's players are in great spirits ahead of the doubleheader against Austrian giants Rapid Vienna, in the second round of qualifying for the UEFA Conference League.
14 days ago, when Sileks was a guest, the first ever European match was played in Tuzi, and tonight (21 p.m.) the biggest match is being played.
The most trophy-winning Austrian club, whose jersey was once worn by the greatest Montenegrin footballer Dejan Savicevic, does not come every day, and the people of Tuz promise to do their best to respond to this great and beautiful European challenge.
The Austrians are trying to bring in this transition period Thomas Miller from Bayern, world champions with Germany. Whether they succeed or not - that detail alone shows what kind of club this is and who is playing tonight at the Tuško Polje stadium.
The Dečić Arena, with its new stand, will be too small to accommodate everyone who wants to watch the spectacle live. Rapid played in the quarterfinals of the Conference League last season, coming as a big favorite and with an imperative, while the boys Nebojsa Jandric achieved their goals.
They have only one thing left - to enjoy the game and give their all against a great opponent, a club with a rich European tradition.
- A big game against an extremely demanding opponent, but also a huge experience. We can only learn and that's why we are taking to the field with a sense of relief - said defender Dečić Leon Ujkaj at the press conference before the match.
Ujkaj points out that the team is training hard, that the atmosphere in the locker room is positive, and that they will try to use the support of the fans to present themselves in the best light.
- We have to be focused, especially defensively. Rapid comes from a very strong league, where clubs - including them - regularly play in European competitions. But we believe in ourselves - he added.
Coach Nebojša Jandrić, who took over the team just a few days before the European challenges, is aware of the difficulty of the task that awaits his team, but also the fact that Dečić enters this match with a competitive rhythm, unlike Rapid, for whom this will be their first match of the season.
If there's anything on Tuzan's side, it's...
- We successfully crossed the first step against Sileks, in a rematch that exhausted us both physically and mentally. But now we are facing a club of enormous renown. Rapid is a truly great club, and we will try to impose the style of play that we have been building in training - said Jandrić.
Rapid doesn't need friendly matches to keep its players in optimal condition, that's clear to anyone who even casually follows football.
- Their players are top professionals who take their bodies seriously. Their market value confirms that. The intensity of their game is reminiscent of the Bundesliga, which certainly brings its own challenges - added Jandrić.
Recovered Drasko Bozovic i Asmir Kajevic They are returning to the team after missing the two-match match against Sileks and could bring experience, but on the other hand - the question is what physical condition they are in after the break for the match against such a serious opponent.
- We hope to have them in the rotation, because they are very important to us. How much we will use them, we will see how the game goes.
For the young expert on the bench, Dečić, European challenges like this represent much more than just a regular match.
- This is a privilege and a huge thing - for the players, but also for me personally. It is a great honor to be a participant in the Conference League and to have the opportunity to contribute to the progress of this club. I have been very well received here since day one and I truly see this as a valuable experience - said Jandrić.
The match starts at 21 p.m., and the referee is Kadir Salgam from Turkey.
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