Montenegrin football players are playing a friendly match with Liechtenstein today in Gorica (18 p.m.) - the match comes in an atmosphere of general football apathy and distrust in the national football team after a heavy defeat in the Faroe Islands (4:0), and in it the "falcons" will try to return things to normal with a victory, although it is clear how difficult it will be and how much time it will take to get through...
Mirko Vučinić, the coach who suffered a heavy 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 continue - said Vučinić.
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 is needed - we are not there. We do not have the mentality of champions, that is what drives teams. We all need to come together, to get out of the crisis, and we promise to do what we can - added Vučinić.
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 my players 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.
"I'LL UNDERSTAND IF THE STADIUM IS NOT FULL"
There is little interest in the match with Liechtenstein, which is a harsh reality, so Vučinić also addressed the audience's support for the upcoming match in Podgorica.
- The audience is important to us. I understand it - I would like them to come, I invite them to come and I promise that the boys will give their best. But even if the stadium is not full, I understand that too. We don't have the results that could make the fans 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 - and that's why I'm just looking at who can follow my ideas and who, in my opinion, is the most ready to help the national team at that moment.
EXAMPLE OF SAVIĆ AND A MESSAGE TO JOURNALISTS
Some, obviously, are still not ready, so Vučinić also had a message for the press.
- It's hard to be modest in life, especially in football. Why? Because articles are written about you, they exalt you to the heavens, and in the end when you see what you've done specifically - it's very little. The environment is to blame, and you journalists are also a little. You "made" many players through your articles, and when we see what they've won and how much they've played, I don't think we can count them on the fingers of one hand - said Vučinić.
He cited his career as a positive example. Stefan Savić.
- Criticism is part of the job and it is welcome, we have to accept it in the right way because it is deserved. To keep our heads down, to work, and every time we go out on the field with the aim of respecting the agreement. The day after the match with the French, I set an example for the players Stefan Savić: he is a champion, a guy who has made a career that maybe I didn't have, and I played in big clubs and won trophies. Savić played in the Champions League final, won the Europa League, and he got there with a lot of work, sweat and blood. That's why he has lasted this long and should be an example to all of us. He didn't reach those heights because he played with his heel or scored with scissors, but he reached the goal by working with his head down. He is our captain and should be our role model - Vučinić is clear.
Finally, the legendary striker was graphic in his attempt to explain where his team is now:
- We are currently in front of Mount Everest, at its very base. If we want to climb that mountain, we can only succeed together. Whoever does not want to be part of the group will be left out. We need to live as one, as a big group.
Bonus video:
