Sutjeska's players crowned the first part of the season in the MeridianBet First Montenegrin Football League with the title of autumn champion. However, with the defeat to Mornar in the last round (1:0), the team from Nikšić missed the opportunity to further increase their advantage over the competition, so they are waiting for the continuation of the championship with four points more than Baran, seven from Jezera, eight from Dečić, and even 11 from Buducnost. Dečić and Buducnost will play the remaining match of the 13th round in Tuzi today (14), so they have the opportunity to reduce the gap to the leader.
Sutjeska started the season in the Conference League qualifiers, where they were eliminated in the second round by Beitar Jerusalem, and then had a good start to the domestic championship, suffering only one defeat in the first six rounds.
The decline followed in mid-September and lasted until the October international break, when the "blues" won only once in five games, and after a defeat to Buducnost in Nikšić (2:0), they parted ways with coach Milija Savović, who was succeeded by Dejan Jelenić, a long-time associate on the coaching staff.
With Jelenić at the helm, Sutjeska lost only their last match in the championship to Mornar, and was eliminated in the Cup by Dečić. The team from Nikšić is therefore waiting for the second part of the season focused only on their league obligations, where they will try to win their sixth title, the first since 2022.
"The first part of the season turned out good in the end, in terms of results. Considering the moment when I took over the team and the situation in the table, I think we did a good job in a short period of time. We subordinated the training process to the profile of the players we have in the team. We raised the level of competitive form and physical fitness. In the end, the results came that are expected from a club of the size of Sutjeska," Nikšić's coach, Dejan Jelenić, summed up the first part of the season for "Vijesti".
The Sutjeska coach reflected on the elimination from the Cup.
"The Cup match came at a specific moment. We played three games in a short period of time. That micro-cycle is very difficult, we played on difficult pitches. At those moments, I was thinking about keeping our freshness and making sure all players get the optimal playing time, so that there are no injuries. I'm sorry that we were eliminated from the Cup, but the championship brings money and prestige. After the relegation, we defeated Mladost and continued the positive trend of results in the championship," explained Jelenić.
Sutjeska is expected to begin preparations for the second part of the season around January 10th.
"The players have received a transition period plan, which they will have to complete before the start of preparations. We are looking for a place where we will do our preparations. Our standard destinations are an option, but if the conditions regarding the pitch are not good, then we will look for alternative solutions abroad," said Jelenić.
In Nikšić, they are already working on the transfer window, and it is expected that there will be certain changes near Bistrica.
"We are working on bringing the optimal solutions we need. We need to focus on a bonus player, who can bring us extra quality. Bonus players determine the team that will go out to the game. We did not have a sufficient number of young players who could put in the effort and continuity. There were moments when the young players got injured, then the results were lacking, especially while Milija Savović was there. The primary goal is to bring in a bonus player. And along with him, my wish is to bring in one quality player in each line who will strengthen the competition. Especially in the area that was a problem for us, which is related to possession, scored and conceded goals. A team that is first in the table with this many goals conceded (20) shows serious shortcomings in selection and performance in matches," Jelenić pointed out.
Players from the youth school will also be at the preparations.
"I always had the idea to show respect for the local kids, to give them a chance, to see if there are individuals who can meet the demands. There will be players who will go with us for preparations. And then we will see if they can stay at this moment or we will look for some alternative solutions."
Sutjeska will carry out part of the preparations without the head coach, as Jelenić is going on an internship in Karabakh to obtain a Uefa PRO license.
"I won't be with the team for about ten days, my assistants will work. After that, when we're all together, we'll bring the team to a level where it can be ready to wait for the championship to resume."
And now the fight for first place begins.
"Every game in our league is difficult. The teams are of similar quality, and that quality can hardly be expressed in the conditions in which we have played for the past two months. A game comes when you have to adapt to the conditions on the pitch. And there is always some technical, tactical mistake. Our league is such that you have to be focused every second. There are several teams that are contenders for the top. We have done a good job in the last two months, and that gives us a more comfortable position to start the second part of the season. Focus, attitude towards work, tactical discipline, level of physical preparation, psychological part related to understanding the size of the club we work for must be a decisive factor in how we will look in the spring," said Jelenić.
No two coaches are the same.
Even though Jelenić was on Savović's coaching staff, the team had to adapt to his demands.
"I worked with Milija for a long time, four years. However, there are no two coaches in the world that players perceive in the same way. I was thinking about how to build some of my demands and principles in my work on the foundation that Milija left me. And that, in terms of results, turned out quite well. The methodological procedures in his and my work are not the same, the demands, training and play are different. Considering that Milija left me a good foundation, I think I guessed that in the coming period it can rise to a higher level, especially when we do the winter preparations," said Jelenić.
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