Serbian national team coach Ljubomir Obradovic will lead the men’s national team in the matches with Portugal 10th (Nis, 18h) and June 14th within the World Cup finals which will be held in Germany and Denmark next January. In a challenging moment against a tough opponent, the women’s national team selector with whom he made evident progress to the good teams at the SP 2017 in Germany and winning the first place in the qualifications for EP 2018, caught a „hot potato“ with seniors, who were tormented by numerous cancellations as well the fact that they were not at the previous two World Championships.
What were your motives for accepting the role of the male national team selector in a rather difficult time like this?
– You made a good introduction. I accepted that because it is my duty and obligation, unlike some players. Some of them canceled on Friday, like Peter Djordjevic. We talked about a month ago, he recovered from injury, but now he gave up. Reasons are not important, they are not convincing. There are some players who did not even answer. If it is my duty, then it is their duty to help in the difficult situation for men’s handball. We must not allow ourselves to fall into prequalification, it’s practically the C Group of World Handball. With optimism I enter the barrage of the game. I’m coming in with the right guys, with the brave guys, who will pull out these two games. On this occasion, I thank them for having responded that they are real Serbs at a difficult time.
You worked long in Portugal, won seven titles of the state champion at the Belens and Porta benches (from 2009 to 2015, six consecutive titles). What is your optimism based on? In the Portuguese or on us?
– Both on the one and the other. Knowing our quality, mentality, morality, if you want, and inat, I believe in my team. I am very familiar to the Portuguese, nine guys stood beside me while I was coach in Porto. We can make a counterbalance to their style of play and answer some of their tasks.
Although they have not been on big competitions for more than a decade, they are progressing, more and more players are in Europe, Duarte is on target Barcelona, Ferrand plays the Bundesliga …
– My goal with Port was playing the EHF Champions League. This is the only criterion for toys. As we played it, the foreign clubs started to be interested in some guys who play well and can meet the high demands of each club. No deviation. We have the only task, and that is placement at SP. The problem of the calendar remains, given that due to the games played on Sunday, we will have a couple of players delays. I appeal for the games to be played before the representative gatherings earlier, so that at least these weeks we had players on time, but few who heard it. I hope that all the guys will be healthy. I talked to everyone individually. We’ll have a lot of meetings. I expect everyone to do what I ask him to do.
Portugal welcomes Orlov in Povoa de Varzim. Is there any particular reason for choosing this place for a household?
– No reason, do not play in big cities, it’s close to Port. Fine Hall, we are expecting cultural winding. People shout „Portugal, Portugal,“ that detail should not worry us.
In many statements so far,
In all of their statements, the Portuguese do not hide to believe in placing the World Cup …
– They have a serious representation, but they must withstand the pressure, that they too must. I believe that we have something more solid, when it must, then it must. I am convinced that these guys will bring it out in the right way. We’ve been waiting for some players to answer the phone to answer the message. I presented myself, I said, who I, what I did, did not find it appropriate to report. Every honor to Petar Nenadić. He told me „Ljubo, I thank you for the invitation, I wanted to work with you, but after all, I can not do it anymore.“ I respect that, this is called correct attitude. To call someone, say „I can, I will not, I will.“ We speak the same language. It’s a shame that those guys are thinking. And someone worked for them before they went to the World Cup, so they would make good contracts. That’s why it was their obligation to make some new guys easier to go to the big scene. There is no one who is comfortable to say and I can not. I am aware that he will rely on me in case of failure. I do not want to think about it. I am convinced that we will pass – concluded Ljubomir Obradovic.
