Maribor stronger after the end of the summer, says Ažbe Jug, stresses: “If we’re right, it doesn’t matter if our opponents win or lose”

Published on 14. September 2024 14. September 2024

Text: David Klemenc. Photo: Žan Pak

After a long and exhausting summer, during which they played 14 official matches while transitioning from domestic to international stages, the Maribor team greatly benefited from the international break. Now that it’s over, Maribor faces another challenging test on Sunday. Before their clash with Koper, the last obstacle for the opponents’ defenders, Maribor’s goalkeeper Ažbe Jug, took a few minutes to talk to Planet nogomet.

“We had high-level preparations, and the pace was relentless throughout. In the last two matches, fatigue was evident, and injuries took their toll, so it turned out as it did. We were close to the Conference League; unfortunately, we didn’t succeed, but despite that, the summer is rated positively, as many didn’t see us in contention for a European autumn until the end,” said 32-year-old Ažbe Jug, reflecting on the hot summer.

Ažbe Jug: “All the newcomers are excellent”

In the final days of the summer transfer window, the purple team not only shocked the domestic public but also the wider region by bringing in several high-profile names. It seems Maribor should actually be stronger in the fall than in the summer. “Yes, a lot has happened in recent days, so this league break was very beneficial, as we had time to get to know each other and work on our game. Impressions of the newcomers are excellent; the tempo in training has increased, there are no more basic mistakes, and they read the game very well,” Ažbe Jug is visibly satisfied with the newcomers in the Styria capital.

Maribor, as usual, is one of the league favorites, alongside Celje and Ljubljana, but fan reactions in the past week have heightened their expectations, especially considering the troubles in Celje and Olimpija’s demanding European schedule. Will the pressure be even greater? “We are professionals; there is no pressure, or as our coach says, we create our own pressure. We take it game by game, aware of our abilities and where Maribor should be. We don’t concern ourselves with others; we follow our planned path and if we succeed, which we believe we will, it doesn’t matter whether the opponents win or lose,” Jug says.

The start of the season has been a bit challenging for the experienced goalkeeper, who was often subject to (unwarranted) criticism, but that has changed over the years. Heading into his fifth season with the purple team, he has become an irreplaceable “number one” and fan favorite, often crucial on the field. Most will remember his performance in the return match against Vojvodina, where he was pivotal in Maribor’s advancement in the penalty shootout.

“Even though I have had good seasons behind me and am somehow ‘cemented’ in the starting lineup, that doesn’t mean I am satisfied. I’m not thinking about the end of my career, nor about reducing the intensity and effort in training. I talk a lot with coach Mitja Pirih, planning and analyzing. People always judge you by the last match, so there’s no time for ‘slacking off’ or ‘relaxing’ on past laurels. I always want to be better, and no matter how good a player is, there’s always room for improvement,” Ažbe Jug acknowledges that, regardless of everything, a footballer must always work hard and give their all.

Regarding playing abroad, he hopes he hasn’t said his last word

After nearly a decade abroad, having played in France, Portugal, and the Netherlands, he returned to the Styria metropolis in 2020. However, according to Ažbe Jug, he hasn’t said his last word about playing abroad: “I am not the same player who left Slovenia, nor the same as when I returned. I train a lot, so I would like to try again in a stronger league, to see if my theory about progress holds true.”

On Sunday, Maribor will host the always tricky and unpredictable Koper at Ljudski vrt. Koper has often taken full points from the Primorska region, but this time it should be different, according to Ažbe Jug. “They are a good team, play nicely, and are particularly strong in defense, conceding few goals. Still, we are going for the win. The points stay at home, and we don’t think about anything else. I hope for a well-attended Ljudski vrt and believe there will be something to see. An attractive opponent on one side, and on the other, our team with all the newcomers who will surely give that extra percent on their debut in front of a new audience, proving that they didn’t wear the jersey of the biggest club in the country for nothing,” concluded the former player of Interblock, Bordeaux, Sporting from Lisbon, and Fortuna Sittard.