Former Volyn, Kryvbas, Metalist, Chornomorets, Zakarpattia and Goverla player Aleksandar Trishovic toldFootball 24about the current Partizan, Dynamo's first opponent on the way to the Champions League.
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- Mr. Alexander, with the reform of the Champions League, strong rivals face each other already at the second stage of qualification. What do they say in Serbia after the draw that determined the pair of Partizan - Dynamo?
- It will be a very tough match. Everyone here knows about Dynamo, what level it is, what quality of play it demonstrates. After all, the Kyiv club constantly plays in European competitions, including the Champions League. The opponent is treated with great respect.
- What does Partizan look like now?
- I would like to note that Red Star has been the Serbian champion for the last seven years, while Partizan managed to win the National Cup only three times during this time. Rival Dynamo has not yet been able to compete with the leader in the national championship. The club has certain problems that they cannot solve. Failures in the championship have led to tense relations with the fans. Fans do not want to accept the team's secondary role and, of course, constantly demand decisions from Partizan's management that would lead to victory in the Serbian championship. The question is clear: the president, general manager and sports director must go. Meanwhile, very few spectators come to the team's home games.
- Last season, Partizan were coached by Igor Dulyai, a former Shakhtar player and assistant coach. Why do you think he had to leave the club?
- I would like to note that when Igor coached the team, the fans perceived his work positively. He is a great player, a legend of the club. Spectators started to return to the stadium. But in the spring, it became clear that Red Star would become the champion again. When he left, everything went backwards. Relations between the management and the fans became tense again.
- Does the fact that Partizan cannot win the national championship, no matter how hard they try, have any effect on the players?
- Of course it does. When a team has not been able to fulfill its task for seven years, the lack of the desired result affects the team and the players. There is psychological pressure, players lose confidence.
Now a new coach, Aleksandr Stanojevic, has come in. This is the third time he has returned to Partizan. He is a very qualified coach. He always shows discipline on the field, he wants the team to play rather than suffer. His teams are always well prepared functionally. Of course, the priority for Partizan today is to get past Dynamo Kyiv. Success will return the favor of the fans.
- What are Partizan's trump cards - is it a defensive team or does it play sharp attacking football?
- I would like to emphasize the attacking potential. They have very fast players, such as the Brazilian Mateus Saldanha and Samed Bazdar. They know how to keep the ball, how to dispose of it, and they see the field well. They led the team last season. And the best player was probably goalkeeper Aleksandar Jovanovic. This speaks to some extent about the team's problems in defense.
Forward George Jovanovic has now returned from Swiss side Basel. There are also newcomers, but it is still difficult to assess them before the start of the season. "Partizan is quite an international team. There are players from Korea, France, the Netherlands, Ghana, Senegal, Congo, Bosnia, and Honduras. Most of them are midfielders, and, I emphasize once again, they are fast.
- Partizan lost to Red Star by almost 20 points in the Serbian league. Is the champion so strong, or is Dynamo's opponent a mediocre level?
- Red Star is the undisputed leader of Serbian football. They have a qualified management, coach, and selection service. Everyone is moving in the same direction. The traditions that were laid down earlier and embodied in the victory in the 1991 European Champions Cup live on. "Partizan is also a legendary club with its own glorious history, but at this stage they are inferior to their competitors. Hence the nervous atmosphere around the team.
- Partizan will host Dynamo in front of empty stands. In Ukraine, in times of war, they are used to playing without fans, but for a Serbian club , is this a very significant loss of advantage in a home match?
- Absolutely. Here, the fans not only passionately support the team during games. They have an influence on the club's decisions. That is, players and fans are one and the same. Now there will be no one part of this whole. Of course, this will affect the game. And it can be crucial. Because there will be a return match in Belgrade. In the first game, on July 23, I won't say that there will be a draw, someone will win, but the winner of the pair will be determined in Serbia.
- Who do you think will make it to the second round of the Champions League qualifiers?
- Dynamo Kyiv. I'm not a fan of the Kyiv team, and as a fan, of course, I want the Serbian club to win. However, in my opinion, the Kyiv club is stronger and will go further.
Gennadiy Chekhovsky