«We believe in our potential»
Vladan Ivić leaves Wednesday’s game behind and focuses on the upcoming ties against Panionios, always aiming at top spot in the play-offs. Here is what the Serbian tactician said to Novasports TV:
On his condition:
«I am fine, thank God. Two days after the incident, I am feeling better. I don’t have any problem. Whatever happened, we leave it behind and we go on«.
On the incidents in Leoforos:
«I don’t want to comment on anything regarding that evening. I believe that everyone involved in football has seen what happened and can draw their own conclusions«.
On the situation within the team and how recent events have affected them:
«In the end of the season, after 11 months of hard work, it’s only normal for fatigue to kick in –not just for us, but for the other teams as well. We already knew that would be the case. We will try to work through it and give it all for top spot«.
On the objective of first place:
«As long as there is hope for top place, I will ask my players to go for it«.
On the absences:
«We need to go on. That happens in football. We didn’t face serious problems during the season, but now there are various absentees, due to fatigue and to suspensions from the last game. It’s our job to deal with these setbacks and adjust. We will do our best to prepare for our next match«.
On the team’s performances in the play-offs:
«I can’t say that I am satisfied with our displays in the first two games. We had ups and downs and, especially in the first match, we wasted several opportunities to score. We were not expecting that we would play attractive football at this stage of the season. That happened last year as well. We played to win the play-offs’ matches and that is what matters now for me. After these 11 long months, we need to get everything we can out of the players, in order to win the encounters. That is our objective. We have four games ahead, a very tough schedule and we will try to defeat teams that are going through the same. We only aim for top spot«.
On Sunday’s game against Panionios:
«As I have said before, Panionios have played good football and have considerably improved this season. They deserve to be high in the standings and these two games against them will be the toughest in the play-offs for us. They know what they want on the pitch, have an excellent, experienced coach and are making heads turn. Congratulations to them. As far as we are concerned, we believe in our potential and we will fight to win both encounters against Panionios«.
