Montenegrin football players will play a friendly match against Liechtenstein tomorrow near Gorica (18 p.m.), and coach Mirko Vučinić spoke at the press conference ahead of the match.
In an atmosphere of general football apathy and distrust in the national football team after a terribly difficult defeat in the Faroe Islands (4:0), Montenegro will try to return to normalcy with a victory, although it is clear how difficult it will be, and how much time it will take to get there.
Vučinić, who suffered a tough defeat on his debut, once again reflected on the foursome in Torshavn.
"The defeat hurts, I have to admit, but I see from the players that they have the desire, the will, and that encourages me to keep going," he said.
Will and desire, however, are not enough on their own.
"We are not competitors, in a match that should be important, we play our worst, we are simply not someone who knows how to compete. We fight, that's how it was when I played, but whenever something more than that is needed, we are not there. We do not have the mentality of champions, that is what drives teams. I said that we should have humility, but that is difficult, sometimes they lift you up to the heavens, and then when you see what you have done, nothing. We all need to come together, to get out of the crisis, and we promise that we will do what is in our power."
At the moment Montenegro is in, every match is important - regardless of the name of the rival, regardless of the nature of the match, whether it was a qualifying or competitive match.
"Every game is important to me, I always go out to win, and I ask them to give their last atom of strength on the field. Without that, there are no results in today's football. I've had a lot of games in the Champions League and against strong opponents, and you simply have to be at the top level to compete with any opponent."
There is little interest in the match with Liechtenstein, which is a harsh reality.
Vučinić also commented on the audience's support for the upcoming match in Podgorica.
"The audience is important to us, and I understand them, I would like them to come, I invite them to come, I promise that the guys will do their best, but even if the stadium is not full, I understand that. We don't have the results that could make them come to watch us."
There will be changes in the team compared to Tórshavn, where some new and younger players played.
"I wouldn't call anyone a young player, as soon as they're here it means they're all equally ready, so I'm just looking at who can follow my ideas and who I think is the most ready to help the national team at that moment."
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