Milojević: We represent Zvezda and Serbia, we have to be brave

- I am proud of the placement in the Champions League. That was our goal, that was our wish. It is difficult to qualify for the Champions League. This is now a new format, since yesterday we are getting used to such a competition, and I am proud that Zvezda is a participant in a new football era in the first year. We fought for this, we wanted to be with the best, and it is a great honor for us to host the giants of European football. We prepare for every game, but as I said, we have to enjoy them. This is a great success for Serbia, and we are aware that apart from Zvezda, we also represent Belgrade and Serbia. This is a great success for a country that is not big, but everyone who comes will be able to see for themselves the beauty of Belgrade. We all have to enjoy it, both us actors and fans, and those who will be near the small screens - Milojević began.

He also spoke about his team, but also about Benfica.

- We will see who will play tomorrow, we have some problems. Benfica is a big club, I wouldn't even waste words, because everything I say is too little for such a big man. I don't think they are in crisis. They have injured players, maybe the mechanism is a little shaky, but I expect a good game against a fantastic team. We will do our best to fulfill all agreements. I never talk about who is the favorite, that's for the press. We don't think about that, but we are focused on the players being fully focused and doing their best. All I ask from the team is that we do what we train and believe in ourselves. We are a good team, and we need to deliver that maximum on the field. This is the Champions League, we are playing against the great Benfica and we will do our best to do the game in the best possible way. We will see how successful we will be in that, but that's how I see it, not through the prism of favorites .

Milojević also referred to the health bulletin.

- It is not about health problems, but about whether the players who came are almost at a high level of physical fitness. High intensity is expected tomorrow, and in discussion with the medical and fitness staff we will see how many we can use. New players are being integrated, but it's not easy. It's not just a question of the first 11, the game lasts 90 minutes. I would not like to lose a player for a long period of time .

Milojević does not think that Benfica is in crisis.

- Every team has problems during the season and that is normal. Someone at the beginning, someone in the middle, someone at the end. However, with big teams, these situations are very short and do not make a difference in terms of the bigger picture. A coach who knows them well came, and with him came new energy. I highly appreciate the former coach Schmidt, from the time of Leverkusen and China. He left a deep mark in Benfica, but the new coach is also the one who knows the system. It must be understood that these are clubs that have a system that has been established for years. When this is the case, and when it works, then personnel changes do not cause major problems .

The head of the professional staff of our team also referred to the new format of the Champions League competition.

- The new format raises football to another level. We are aware that football is an industry. Serbia is a small country that has been through a lot in the previous decades, and our opponents will mostly come from more developed countries. There are big investments in football. In England, football is perhaps the third branch of the economy. We should not be interested in that, although the fact is that it is, because we are athletes and we want to compete. We have passion and fans, and Maracana is famous not only in Europe, but also in the world. As Zvezda's child, I am extremely glad to be able to play in such an environment. We have our fans who support us. Of course, there are fans in Europe as well, but nothing can compare with this emotion.

Milojević is not afraid of defeat, he does not think in that direction.

- You asked me before Liverpool if I was scared because Maribor lost 7:0 against them. I'm not looking in that direction. So what do we have to lose? We want to play football and have fun. We are a small country that is in an elite competition. It is not a sensation and it is not the success of Vladan Milojević, but of Red Star as a former European champion. We are only now seeing how much we are trotting about sports. I look at the stadiums, they are wonderful, three stadiums were built by the state. "Alijanc Arena" was not created just like that either, help was needed. Thanks to the state for allowing us to be competitive. I can also talk to you about budgets and ask a counter question, but I don't see it that way and I don't want to go beyond sports. This is not a fight between David and Goliath, but a good match against the giants awaits us. I know a lot about Benfica, I spoke with Fejs who you all know very well, he left his mark in Portugal. A big, trophy-winning club is coming to visit us, and we must not be afraid. We have to be brave, to fight, to be sportsmen. We will see in the end what and how, but we have to be honest with ourselves. A little thing will decide - out, interruption, foul .

Milojević continued to talk about the qualities of Benfica.

- I can't talk about tactics, at least theirs, but I'm sure it doesn't make any difference whether they are hosts or guests. They have their own plan, and today is such an era that it is difficult to surprise anyone. We are a team that works well, physically we are old, and as far as intensity is concerned, it is certainly higher in Europe than in the Super League. It is commendable that this season our league is of better quality, from the infrastructure, better players, bigger budgets of other clubs, which also means to us. We play in the domestic league, which means that our rivals are the best possible opponents .

Zvezda is 19.9.1984. beat Benfica 3:2, will history repeat itself?

- I know Janjanin, he is a wonderful man. I know that he has been living in Greece for years, and that he will be at the game tomorrow. I will be glad to see him - underlined Milojević.

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