The Coach is content with his players’ engagement and what they’d showed in Austria.
Osijek’s players return from Austria, where they finished their preparation cycle for the coming season. Zoran Zekic is happy with his players’ efforts.
“I think that the training conditions were perfect and I want to express gratitude to our fantastic hosts on their unparalleled hospitality. The hotel was magnificent and we truly had everything we’d hoped for. I think that the time spent there was well-utilized, but it’s normal that the odd thing is always missing. We have been working hard for 3 weeks now, with the intensity being cranked up to max, but I believe that we achieved much of what we’d planned” Zekic explained.
Best Showing vs. Videoton
The Coach elaborated on Osijek’s performance during the 5 trial matches.
“It’s hard to correctly gauge the opponents in terms of their state and training intensity prior to matches. What we’d shown against Videoton, though, was nothing short of stellar. The worst shape we found ourselves in was against Shkendija due to us losing that bout. We did well against the Scots, us being in the mood and on the run all the time. For Lokomotiv, all I can say is that it was a close match and that I was content in the end. Even though they played with their B roster, it was clear that every player showed their best self. The final match against ZTE was a chance for us to see the abilities of our younger ranks. That match was a trial for them.”
The HQ spent a significant chunk of the time analyzing what was achieved in the 13 days spent in Austria.
“Not only did we record every match, but we also recorded every training session and analyzed it thoroughly. There are certain details that are to be improved because they transform into mistakes that keep being repeated from match to match. It needs to be worked on.”
The Moldavians are Not Like Santa Coloma
Osijek is preparing for next week’s Europe debut, where they will be away team in Moldavia. “I know that the bout against Petrocub will be demanding, but we can treat the first European matches as trials, simply due to the fact that this opponent isn’t UA Santa Coloma of last year. I know that people will look at this differently, but the Moldavians are in a competitive spirit and they’ve played 14 league matches. We watched them play and I can safely assert that they seem solid and organized. 10 players are homing the ball and that isn’t easy to outplay.”
No Significant Question Marks
Zekic added how Petrocub isn’t only about defending their goal, but that they always aim to launch a counter-offensive towards the enemy penalty area.
“They have a high-quality means of launching a conter-offensive and we must pay attention to their free kicks and corner kicks. We must practice infinite patience and to emphasize spreading out. We will prepare accordingly and the boys have already been briefed. Everything goes towards the European “War Effort” as of now” Zekic concluded.
