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Veselinovic speaks before the Albania-Serbia duel: The Red and Blacks are strong in transition, the players have great faith in Silvinjo
2025-05-31 14:20:26 / SPORT
Last season, everyone was surprised when a coach from Serbia was appointed to lead Partizan. It was not a taboo, because at that time, Ivan Gvozenovic was also leading the team in Korça.
After the end of the championship half, the Reds decided to dismiss Aleksandar Veselinovic, even though the team was in fourth place. However, on the eve of the Albania-Serbia match to be played on Saturday, June 7, Veselinovic gave an interview to the media “sport.alo.rs”, where, among other things, he identifies the residents of Tirana as very hospitable. He talks about Silvinho, the team and the unimaginative attack that Albania has. The former Partizan coach thinks that the Serbian defense will not have much work in that match, although it is good that they score first.
Could psychological preparation be essential?
Because of history and politics, emotions are guiding us, but they must remain within normal limits. I believe that Stojkovic and our experienced players will manage to keep things at a level that will lead us to victory.
Is Albania easy to defeat?
It is a team oriented towards defense, compact and with a lot of dedication… With this part of the team works the Argentine assistant coach Zabaleta, who has become known for his contribution in defense. They always play with maximum responsibility, while their biggest weakness is the lack of creativity in attack. But they are improving a lot, it is extraordinary how much the players trust in coach Silvinho. The Brazilian has fascinated them and has brought a lot of progress in the game, especially compared to previous Italian coaches, who saw football from a different perspective.
Silvinjo doesn't have a special coaching CV...
Lyon, Corinthians and now Albania. They are satisfied with the way he works and the whole secret of success lies in the fact that the players trust him. He has simply charmed them and they are ready to sacrifice for him, showing extraordinary discipline in the game, with which they compensate for the shortcomings.
Will it be played in a modern stadium in Tirana?
It is a facility with fantastic acoustics, where the Conference League final was played, Roma-Feyenoord 1:0. As Partizan coach, I have played there three derbies against Tirana and I have only positive impressions. When you add the screams of the fans from the stands, then you have a complete, true picture of football.
No! They will do everything to ensure that the match is organized as well as possible. Their Federation President, Duka, has excellent relations with UEFA, is close to Ceferin and, when he talks to Infantino, they talk like brothers. He managed to co-organize the European Youth Championship… They don't care if something happens that will cast a shadow on them. Moreover, UEFA did not separate these teams during the draw, which is what it usually does when it foresees problems.
The stadium stands are mostly filled with Albanians from Kosovo. Have all the tickets been sold?
I learned unofficially that most of the tickets were bought by Albanians from Kosovo, who are very different from the locals (of Albania), who don't even think about talking or dealing with politics. However, I don't expect any particular problems for our team.
What else characterizes the Albanian national team?
Basically, they have a clear football development strategy, with great influences initially from Croatian coaches, and then from Italian ones, who willingly come to Albania because it is close. They are always motivated, full of self-confidence and for one goal they did not pass to the highest league of the League of Nations, but against Ukraine, Czech Republic and Georgia, the matches that I saw “live”, they played very well. Also, a third of the players come from Serie A, they have been together for a long time, they are hungry for success, and they also have hidden assets like Asani who plays in South Korea, in whom well-known managers from clubs of the “Top 5” leagues are already interested.
What should worry us?
They are extremely dangerous in transition and during set pieces, but looking at the composition of our defense, I believe we will have no problems if we prepare well psychologically and tactically. It would be ideal to score first and take the game at a pace that suits us. Albania's biggest problem is the lack of creativity in attack.
Thanks to football, you have traveled all over the world, which people were the most hospitable?
As a player and coach, I spent 16 years in eight countries and believe me, I have never met kinder people than the people of Tirana. It happened that a taxi driver refused to take money from my assistant, Dragan Aničić, even though he knew that he was part of Partizan, while he was a fan of the big city rival! However, Dragan did not accept this “forgiveness” and rewarded him.
What surprised you the most?
Albanian footballers are excellent in terms of motor and physicality in competition. They are diligent, hardworking, disciplined, fanatical and aggressive, they have a sensitivity for the game and it is a pleasure to work with them. I think they are faster than us, they have energy and pride, but not very strong physically. Having worked for eight years in Russia, I can compare them. Russians are completely different, they have to compensate for all their weaknesses with work, but they are physically dominant.
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