After winning the eternal derby at home against Rogaška, Maribor’s coach, Ante Šimundža, admits: “The atmosphere in the locker room is understandably excellent”
Photo: Žan Pak
After Saturday’s matches in Domžale (Radomlje – Mura 1:2) and Ljubljana (Olimpija – Aluminij 5:0), the 32nd round of the Slovenian national championship will continue with a triple program on Sunday. Celje will host Domžale at home (17:30), but the idea of already celebrating the title has fallen through due to the zmajis’ victory. In the evening (20:15), Koper and Bravo will clash, while the match between Maribor and Rogaška will take place at 15:00.
Maribor is overflowing with confidence after winning the 156th Eternal Derby in the middle of the week and defeating Olimpija in Ljubljana for the first time in over four and a half years. “The derby is behind us, and we are satisfied with the result and the performance. The physical and emotional burden was high. The atmosphere in the locker room is, understandably, excellent. Especially with the realization that we achieved victory by dominating most of the game, not by chance or luck. We didn’t start well, but we managed to impose our style of play on the opponents. During the game, things happen that lift you up, so the satisfaction is even greater. With the confirmation that the direction we are heading in is the right one,” said Ante Šimundža for the club’s website.
“This is NK Maribor’s thinking”
But there’s no time for celebration regardless. Already, Josip Iličić emphasized after the victory in Stožice that the joy is understandable, but euphoria is completely unnecessary. “This is NK Maribor’s thinking, of high professionalism and a club that already has several milestones. Josip, as a great player who has played at the highest level, provided information on how to respond after such matches. Most of us have already experienced everything that the derby brings, but for newcomers, emotional emptiness is still a novelty. For us, this is something completely understandable, and we will try to prevent it or take care that it does not exist,” added Ante Šimundža, who will not be able to count on the suspended Blaž Vrhovec against Rogaška.
“Iličić has problems with a painful finger, but he will probably be able to stay at the level we want. Especially with the way he reacted after the dislocation. Barišić feels tiredness, Vrhovec feels pain in his hip, which occasionally appears. But his preparation for the match is such that he needs a short time to return and has already joined the team in training,” described Ante Šimundža the situation in the team before the match against Oskar Drobneta‘s side.
It is worth noting that the match will once again be played in front of empty stands, and Maribor, as usual, organizes a gathering in front of the Ljudski vrt Stadium.
This text was automatically translated using AI.
Author: editorial Football Planet
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