Coach Nenad Lalatović praised his players after the draw with Radnički.
The Old Lady played without goals with the team from Niš today, and Lalatović had special words of praise for the younger players who used the chance today and showed that they are the future of Vojvodina.
– I am glad that the young players who played today took the opportunity, and I would especially like to single out Miletić, who showed that he is the future of the club. He is a child who came from Red Star and who showed me that Vojvodina can seriously count on him in the future. Novevski also played very well, after he started the game against Partizan, just like the goalkeeper Toroman, because it doesn’t matter if he, Vukliš or Simke is at the goal, because everyone has a huge quality. Along with them, the future of Vojvodina is Zukić, and Topić, who have been playing regularly for a long time. The new coach of Vojvodina has young players that he will be able to rely on. I would also like to praise the coaching staff of Radnički, who today gave a chance to the great young goalkeeper Kojić. I think that he was also great and that he has a bright future ahead of him – said Lalatović.
The coach of Vojvodina then revealed that he had certain problems today when assembling the team.
– I’m sorry that we couldn’t count on Bralić today. Đurić was suspended, so Kovačević played, but he received a yellow card, so I took him out, because I didn’t want to take any risks. I must also say that two players came to me today and asked me not to enter the game, because they have some offers, and they did not extend their contracts with Vojvodina. I have already talked about that, if they get injured, they stay on the street, if they do not extend their contracts. I absolutely supported them, because I understand their situation. We have secured Europe long time ago and there is no reason to risk someone’s injury. Despite all that, those who played fought to the very end. My team wanted to win today, they attacked for 90 minutes, because Vojvodina only looks at its own yard. We don’t care who is fighting for survival, because we always play fair. Today, the ball did not go into the goal – said Lalatović.
He wished the team from Niš to survive in the Serbian Super League.
– I spent a great year in that club and in that period I suffered only two defeats, because we had a phenomenal team. Radnički is a great club, just like the city of Niš, and it would be absolutely undeserved to be relegated to the First League. A club with such a tradition, with such a stadium and fans, as well as the management of the club, does not deserve to be eliminated and I wholeheartedly want them to survive. I also talked to the players, and believe me, you may or may not like Mr. Tončev, but he is a gentleman for many people who run clubs in the Super League. Radnički does not owe a single dinar to its players. He even gave salaries in advance and all credit to Mr. Tončev for that, because now they tell me that the situation is even better than when I was there, and even then it was great. Like Radnički, I also don’t want Novi Pazar to be relegated, because it is a football city, with great fans. It would be a shame for our football to drop such two clubs – the coach of Vojvodina points out.
Lalatović also referred to the fierce fight for the third place with Čukarički.
– Čukarički is only one point away from us, it has a match with Partizan, and we are playing in Šabac, so everything is open in the remaining three rounds. My wish is for us to be third, but when you see how much Čukarički’s boss, Mr. Obradović, gives to his players, then maybe it is better for them to be above us. The boys have double premiums. Now they have 150 euros per win, and if they are fourth in the end, then their bonuses will be doubled. Imagine how important it is for them to be third, while for us at the club it seems that it is not so important. We will not give up the third place, and maybe we will be in that position from the next round – Lalatović pointed out.
In the end, Lalatović also supported the words of President Aleksandar Vučić, who will advocate for the progress of Serbian football.
– I read the statement of President Vučić that he will stand in the way of some things in our football, and I absolutely support that. From the summer, everything must be done cleanly and we must not make any mistakes intentionally. I am glad that he publicly said that our football will be 50% better, because we did not deserve UEFA to write about us like that. It is impossible for a club to tie 20 victories, or even six, seven. It is not realistic what is happening in our country. I absolutely believe his word that he will stand in the way of all that, and if he manages to change football in Serbia, then he should rule as long as he wants. Because if he succeeds in that, as no one has in the last 15 years, then we have no better and let the government stay for another 50 years. I hold my thumbs for that, because that would be good for clubs, players and fans, as well as for us coaches – Lalatović concluded.
