Serbian national player Nenad Perunicic admitted that he was 18th at the World Championships in Germany and Denmark, the worst ever in tournaments, and assumed responsibility for the result, but also reminded that for big changes and rejuvenation time is needed.
– It’s painfully 18th, I stand above it. Sometimes happiness has to serve, we were in the most difficult group, had a violation of Zelenovic, and there is also a trial that was unfair to us against Russia. I do not want an alibi, we looked to get the maximum and, as I said before the SP, I was not successful if we did not go to the next round – Perunicic told a news conference in RSS on Tošin bunar.
As he pointed out, he is aware of the difficult process of shifting the generation since he had as many as seven debitants at the planetary championship.
– It may be a gambling, given the real situation, that I set the second round as a goal. Still, I was leading my entire career.
Peruničić adds that he takes responsibility for selecting a player.
– It takes time for changes, but the sport wish and motive leads us to more. I’m standing above the group of players, obviously we currently have a lack of quality, but I believe it will be upgraded – once said a trophy handball player, noting that he did not allow disappointment at any moment, but rather as a lesson.
According to him, the view that the change of the generation is the right decision is firmly held.
– I was clearly in the position, we missed the shift when it was done. We are lucky to have debutants 27, 28, 30 years … I do not want the players, who will be the bearers, to miss the competition. I do not point my finger at anyone, but we screamed the results, so we had placements 12, 13.
He wanted Ilija Abutovic and Zarko Sesum to be the leaders of the new wave, but his desire was not heard.
– Abutovic gave up playing for the national team, I fully understand him, as well as Sesum, who thanked for being overused for all the disappointments. I did not make a decision overnight, I am aware of what I’m doing.
Perunicic believes in a favorable outcome of qualifying for the European Championship, where Serbia is in a difficult situation.
– It’s always difficult, but we’ll do everything to go to the EP. I want everyone to be healthy and correct the results from Belgium and Switzerland, says the selector, with the conclusion that some things in the hands of handballers and the relationship have already changed.
