Ante Šimundža did not want to deal with the referees after the eternal derby: “They have their superiors, they will evaluate how they did their job”
Photo: Žan Pak
If you were to ask Maribor fans, they would likely say that the referees had a significant impact on the outcome of the first eternal derby of the new season. At Ljudski vrt, before nearly 10,000 spectators, the match ended in a 1-1 draw, which, given the events on the pitch, was probably the fairest result. However, Ante Šimundža, Maribor’s coach, was not keen to dwell on the referees after the game.
“I’m here to focus on the players, on the team, and how to improve with each upcoming match. The referees have their superiors who will evaluate how well they did their job,” Šimundža told the club’s website, and added regarding the match against Ljubljana: “We had a psychologically challenging game, very intense, with a lot happening both on and off the field. We saw a derby that provided plenty of excitement for many. We observed the European approach of both teams in terms of perception and competitiveness. Throughout the match, we had our periods, as did our opponents. If we look at the entire game, the draw is the most just result. We will take positive experiences from the derby and see a lot of room for improvement.”
Ante Šimundža: “The team’s response was excellent”
Although the derby was sandwiched between two crucial European fixtures, Šimundža did not spare his players’ energy: “If we approached the derby with that mindset, it wouldn’t have been good. We take it one game at a time. The team’s response, with its mental intelligence, was excellent. This is important for future development. We both played a crucial match for Slovenian football on Thursday. The derby, understandably, draws extra effort from each player, leading to energy and emotional exhaustion. Regeneration follows, and it is crucial now to refresh and focus on the return leg.”
One of Maribor’s heroes was Ažbe Jug, who, among other things, saved a penalty. “Ažbe performed his duties excellently. We mustn’t allow a penalty kick to be awarded so easily after winning the ball. However, we were mentally at a high enough level to respond later on. This is an encouraging realization,” emphasized Šimundža.
With Olimpija now behind them, Maribor’s focus shifts to Djurgården and the battle for a spot in European competition. “It’s always better to go into the next game after a win. If it happens in a derby, it’s even sweeter. We didn’t manage to win three points, but given all the circumstances, from our perspective, this point is good for the future. Especially in terms of how we perceive things, and I hope this will have a positive impact on Thursday,” concluded Ante Šimundža.
This text was automatically translated using AI.
Author: editorial Football Planet
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