Just three weeks after the end of last season, and a little more than 48 hours after the presentation of Saša Ilić as the club’s new head coach, Partizan’s players gathered for the start of preparations for the upcoming campaign. The day began with the usual medical examinations and fitness testing before the squad reported to the new coaching staff.

The black-and-whites will complete the opening phase of preparations at the Partizan-Teleoptik Sports Centre in Zemun before moving to Slovenia, where the central stage of their pre-season camp will take place.

Before the players headed out for their first training session in heavy rain, they were addressed by General Director Danko Lazović, club president Rasim Ljajić, and finally head coach Saša Ilić.

“I would like to take this opportunity to welcome all of you and wish you productive work, good health, and plenty of luck. We are here for you whenever you need anything, and I hope that with new energy we will achieve better results than last season. Good luck,” said Lazović.

President Ljajić then added:

“Before I hand over to Saša Ilić, I want to tell you that a season does not begin with big words, but with hard work. This is the start of a new chapter in which all of us must prove ourselves again—each individual, the group as a whole, and the family that we are. I want to free you from any pressure and remind you that every day each of us must strive to become better as an individual, because that is how we improve as a team. Besides being good footballers, you must also be good people. For success, it is not enough to be talented players; you must believe in success and in one another. I wish you fewer setbacks and injuries than last season, and I wish all of us the best of luck.”

The players were then welcomed by their new head coach, who outlined his expectations for the work ahead.

“First of all, I wish you good health. Most of you have come through our academy, so you know how big Partizan is and what is expected of you. I expect you to be fully focused in every training session, because that is the only way you can improve. My coaching staff and I are available to you at any time, and I ask you to listen to us—not because we know everything, but because we have already gone through everything that you are experiencing now,” said Ilić before leading the team to their first training session together.