Many generations of the Adriatic did not manage to make a miracle and achieve a perennial dream - to win a European trophy, and the 2018/19 season. could be remembered as the most brilliant in the club's history.
Whether that will happen or whether the dream will continue, the answer will be received tonight after 19:XNUMX after the second leg of the Eurocup final between Novljan and Marseille.
Vladimir Gojković's team is chasing a goal minus after the defeat in France 9:8, but the first European trophy is really not far away, even though Marseille showed in the first match 14 days ago that it has the character to come back from a lost situation (losing 4:0), even Jadran saved himself from a more convincing defeat in the finish.
There are no more calculations, now is the time for Jadran to make a breakthrough.
- There is pressure, there is also a kind of euphoria in and around the club, all because of the goal of bringing Jadran the first European trophy in history. It's no small thing to be in the final of the Eurocup, we had a difficult road to this double match with Marseille, and now we are 32 minutes away from the trophy. Because of all this there is trepidation, but we are ready to finish the job - said Dragan Drašković, one of the team leaders from Škver.
That first game was marked by oscillations in the game of both teams and reversals.
- In the first match, we had a great start, but we fell as time went on. The fact that we had a large number of games this season, both in the club and in the national team, also came to the fore. Marseille has a completely different rhythm, it was preparing for us for a certain time. Maybe after the 4:0 lead, we relaxed a little, but we are still in a good position - says Drašković.
A victory for Jadran by one goal difference would mean that the European Cup champion will be won after five rounds
- Now we need a different approach. We have to be calmer, not to burn out in desire from the start, not to be held back by the fact that we are one step away from the cup. It is necessary for the defense to be at the top level, to be aggressive as always when we play at home - points out the former European champion with Primorje.
Jadran started the European season in the Champions League, from where, after elimination, it was "recommended" to the Eurocup. In the quarter-finals and semi-finals, he recorded four victories in as many matches (against Primorje and Hungarian OSC). Such a European trip made him the favorite before the clash with Marseille.
- We haven't done anything yet, and I don't think we are as much of a favorite as it is presented, because we have a very young team. Marseille left us that role, which we deserved by playing during the season, because we also had a difficult path to the finals, especially the duels against OSC. But the French are also a serious team, they keep a good rhythm throughout the game and we have to thwart their strongest weapons.
And those weapons are well known. These are first of all the Montenegrin national team members - Miloš Šćepanović and Bogdan Đurđić.
- Šćepanović has been in Jadran's system for years, and he knows Đurđić well through the national team, just like Ante Vukičević through duels in the regional competition. All this means that there can hardly be any surprises compared to the first game. I believe that we are asking ourselves, that a lot depends on our efforts in defense - concluded Drašković.
We are not in the lead, but it is not a problem that we are playing in Nikšić
Jadran will meet Marseille in Nikšić due to the reconstruction of the pool at the "Simo Milošević" Institute in Igalo. There was a possibility to play the second leg at the open pool in Škver, but LEN rejected that option.
- If it's the same, it's not. We are used to the pool in Igalo, but we will have excellent support in Nikšić as well. We feel it at every step for days, so I'm sure there will be a great atmosphere during the game. There will also be a large number of our fans. We have played several matches in Nikšić this season, we are not unfamiliar with that pool. It would certainly be better if we were the hosts in Igalo, but in the end the most important thing is what happens in the water - said Dragan Drašković.
Radović: To be 20-30 percent better than in France
Jadran has to give more tonight than in the first match in France, is the message of one of Novljan's best players, Đur Radović.
- If we think we are writing history, it is necessary to be 20-30 percent better than in Marseille. We know what our limits are, we believe in the trophy - said the left-handed water polo player, who turned 20 on February 20.
Defender Dimitrije Obradović had an invitation for the fans.
- History is being written, support is very important to us - says Obradović.
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