Damir Krznar stressed Celje were too nervous after defeat to Olimpija: “It seems to me that we lost focus”

Published on 6. November 2023 6. November 2023

Photo: Blaž Weindorfer / Sportida

After four consecutive matches Celje suffered its first defeat in Telemach First League. Damir Krznar lost for the first time since he has been on the bench of the leading Slovenian top-flight team, and Olimpija were the winers on Sunday in Knežje city. The only goal of the match was scored by the league’s leading scorer Rui Pedro frompenalty, and Olimpija reduced the deficit to five points.

“A defeat that hurts because we are without three points. We allowed our direct title rival to get a little closer. In the end, the result is the most important thing, but what we can take from the game is our performance, which was solid. We were too nervous in the first half, not without desire, but with too much desire. We rushed the attack too quickly and didn’t prepare, losing balls too quickly and creating empty space behind us,” said Damir Krznar after the game at the Z’Dežele Stadium.

Damir Krznar: “Of course I will be subjective”

The former Maribor coach continued. “In the second half, we dominated completely and tried and tried and tried. All this may have had an impact on our nervousness, which we wanted to alleviate. I think we deserved a point. If we had won it, our mood would certainly be different now. But what counts is that the team played well again. We can be satisfied with the number of opportunities we have created. It’s true that the result is what counts, but for coaches, execution is also important.”

The Croatian expert agreed that his team was a bit too nervous in the match against their rivals from Ljubljana: “It seems to me that they have lost their focus. I tried to influence them from the edge of the court to focus only on us and our performance. We should not be distracted by the things that have happened around us. I understand the team’s reaction, but let this be a lesson for us to do more with ourselves, because we are the only ones who bring the result. I got what I wanted from them in the second half. So, lots of opportunities, wishes and ideas. That’s enough to be optimistic. Today, unfortunately, the ball didn’t go in the net. But a championship is a marathon. We need to stay focused. Today’s performance was enough for at least one point, maybe even three. Next time, we must do everything to make it so.”

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Damir Krznar refused to comment after the game on the controversial penalty: “I looked at the situation. Of course, I will be subjective. Even if I am objective, someone will interpret it as subjective. My job is to play the game. I believe that there are people who deal with the decisions of judges and that judges will also be held accountable if they have, of course, made a mistake.”

Celje will host Maribor

In the next round Celje will host Maribor, Dami Krznar will return to the capital of Styria for the first time after his departure to the capital of the capital city.I certainly won’t treat the match as special. It is another match with a chance to win three points. The match between Maribor and Celje is enough in itself to create a good atmosphere and charge. I won’t feel any revenge, but the match is certainly a motivation for me. Especially in the sense that I will be playing against a team that I have led and therefore want to beat. But there will certainly be no bad blood or extra pressure. We will do everything we can to get to victory. True, it won’t be easy, but we have the quality and the know-how to achieve it.”

This text was automatically translated using AI.

Author: editorial Football Planet