All three goalscorers from the weekend`s game – Natcho, Filipovic and Kalulu – spoke to media reps as part of Media Day staged at Partizan training centre.
Defender Aleksandar Filipovic was asked about the goal he scored – year another header into the net from 29-year-old.
“I hope it`s not the last goal I score. I`m over the moon now, we waited for so long for fans to come back to the stands and the atmosphere was great. I guess it was the best moment for me to score and celebrate it with the fans”, said Filipovic.
Did such atmosphere had an influence on your below-par performance in the first half?
“Maybe it did. We knew stands were going to be packed and we wanted to present them with a good performance in return. However, the first half was not as it should be but we improved our game after the break and to achieve a deserved win”.
The set-piece play leading to the goal you scored seemed rehearsed as it resembled on against Molde in 2019 when Savo Milosevic was coaching Partizan in his first spell.
“Yes, we practiced and the cross was pinpoint one and we met all the demands needed.
Some of the players never played in front of so many fans. You spoke to them, how did they react to it?
“Of course, everyone was delighted to play in front of packed stands. Simply, I cannot describe the rush of emotions involved and we all hope we`ll have similar or the same atmosphere home and away in the future too. As a result, I hope we`ll win more games and win them in a less stressful fashion for the fans to be as satisfied as possible”.
How much influence management changes had on the mood around the squad?
“We read about it and comment on it but we are more focused on the field itself, on our tasks. We try to leave it aside and focus on the pitch only”.
You had your ups and downs this season already. What do you expect from the rest of the season?
“We are on a four-game winning streak and I hope we`ll continue this way. We have a cup game now, one-legged tie and we simply have to go for a win as well as try to get as far as possible in the cup competition”.
What was it like what you rushed to the South stand after the goal you scored?
“It was phenomenal. I didn`t think much, I just ran there and I can`t describe how good the feeling was. I will stay with me for the rest of my life”.
Did you envy Partizan basketball players who have this kind of atmosphere since the home return of coach Zeljko Obradovic?
“Naturally, we wanted to have so much fans at our ground too and we finally got there”, said Aleksandar Filipovic.
Interviews with Bibars Natcho and Aldo Kalulu (in English) can be also viewed below.
