Ante Šimundža already has the ideal starting eleven for Maribor in his mind, but at the same time emphasizes: “No one has a guaranteed spot in the team yet”
Photo: NK Maribor
Maribor played their last friendly match on Wednesday in preparation for the second part of the season. The Purple and Whites faced Bistrica, who resisted the favored top-tier team for a long time but eventually conceded three goals at the end of the match, losing 0-3. Maribor’s coach, Ante Šimundža, was pleased with what he saw against the club from Slovenian Bistrica.
“After returning from Turkey, we had to adjust to the conditions in our home environment, the weather, and the conditions that await us. The guests focused on defense, there were some exceptional goalkeeper interventions, but we created quite a few opportunities and converted three. The opponent didn’t score, so the match received a positive rating,” emphasized Ante Šimundža for the club’s website.
The coach of the Styrian giant also admitted that he already has an ideal starting eleven in mind that will carry the main burden in the upcoming challenges of the Prva liga Telemach. However, he emphasized that, regardless, no one is guaranteed a spot in the team.
Ante Šimundža: “Squad depth means a lot”
“All players who got a chance have approximately equal playing time. I’m looking for a team that will play. Things are already sorted out and set in my mind, but no one has a guaranteed place in the team. We don’t burden only 15 or 16 players. Having squad depth is crucial, allowing us to increase the tempo within individual games, both in attack and defense. This is something we always consider. Regarding the number of minutes, we played 2 x 90 in Turkey, we tested various formations, partnerships, trios, or quartets in different parts throughout the preparations. There were many rotations in recent weeks; the guys know each other very well, a lot has been done in training, and that’s why the game plan was executed in such a way. With two different line-ups,” explained Ante Šimundža, who took over in the middle of the fall season at Ljudski vrt, replacing Damir Krznar.
Just before the start of the second part of the 2023/24 season, Ante Šimundža also touched on the newcomers: “Some newcomers joined a bit later, but it’s important that everyone has been with us for some time. Getting to know the automatisms and principles in our game. It’s a process that is different for each individual, but it brings appropriate responses. Everyone wants to play, and we have to find our things, which I missed in the fall part. Now the outlines and thinking are already showing, according to which we want to be recognizable. Of course, preparatory matches are one thing, and league matches are an entirely different story. We must be at a high mental level all the time, so it’s also gratifying to realize that we didn’t concede a goal in six out of seven preparation matches. If we are solid in defense, we will be successful, as we have enough quality in attack,.”
This text was automatically translated using AI.
Author: editorial Football Planet
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