Ante Šimundža after the interruption of a series of 11 consecutive home league wins: “I think this result is the most fair”

Published on 5. August 2024 5. August 2024

Photo: Žan Pak

Yesterday’s match between Maribor and Bravo could have gone in any direction, with both teams having a chance to win, but it ended in a draw. Immediately after the game, the Štajerska pride Ante Šimundža shared his thoughts. He was not satisfied with his team’s performance but felt the final outcome was fair given what was displayed on the field.

“It was a challenging match, as we expected. It was a game where we could have won or lost, so when we look at the whole picture, both teams had their chances. I believe this result is the most fair,” the Maribor coach said at the post-match press conference.

The team from Ljudski vrt has often experienced setbacks in domestic competitions following European matches in the past, but this has not yet happened this season. “The fact is that we had an advantage, but we also recognized the difficulties we face, such as how the opponent plays. In my opinion, we conceded a goal too easily. At times during the game, we were too timid in transitioning to attack. We were often forced into situations that didn’t suit us due to their pressure. When we managed to get past their pressure, we were too slow for their defense and they simply stopped us. From that perspective, when we became faster with the ball, attacked, and forced them to defend, we created opportunities. We have certain issues with players returning from injury and those who haven’t been with us from the start, but these are our problems. I am happy that we didn’t lose the match, as it often happens after a difficult European away game that you slip up in the league. However, I am not satisfied with how we played,” Šimundža added.

“We can’t just overlook this. These rotations are normal in football, and as coaches, it’s our job to handle them and try to find the best solutions. With Sikošek, you can see that he has been out for a while; I think this was his first match since returning, so it’s normal that after such an injury, you need some time to get back into rhythm. I am pleased with Soudani’s return, he brings tremendous energy. Grlić also had a very nice opportunity. Such matches are important for players to gain experience and understanding of how to perform. Still, based on what we do in training, I believe they weren’t at the level they are capable of,” Šimundža continued.

Just minutes before the end of regular time, Maribor tried to turn the match in their favor with two new additions. “With Mbino and Brys, we wanted to increase our offensive pressure, as we knew that this could cause them problems, and we did push them back, creating the situation we wanted, but unfortunately, we didn’t score,” Šimundža noted.

Šimundža: “We have already analyzed Vojvodina”

The 16-time national champions played this match without Josip Iličić, and some other players are also dealing with injuries. On the other hand, the return of Algerian veteran Hilal Soudani is encouraging and could be very beneficial for the team’s upcoming challenges. “Iličić was left on the bench as a precaution. We know he’s missing preseason training. Although he trained well with the national team, it’s still not at the level we need, and we didn’t want to risk further injury. Whether Sven (Šoštarič Karič) will be available for Thursday, we’ll see; for now, it looks positive, but until the medical staff gives the green light, we can’t count on him. Vrhovec is capable of playing, but the question is at what level, as he has only had two training sessions with the team,” Šimundža explained.

“We have already completed the analysis of Vojvodina. Tomorrow we will present it to the players and from then on, we will refocus on Europe,” concluded the 52-year-old coach.

This text was automatically translated using AI.

Author: editorial Football Planet