Tamse: "We know it won't be easy but win is all that matters"
For the first time in sports history of city of Pancevo, European champions will play in hall Streliste. Serbian vice-champions Dinamo Pancevo will welcome the best team from Slovenia, EHF Champions League winners back from 2004 - Celje Pivovarna Lasko in a match of SEHA Gazprom League Round 5.
Domestic squad had time to rest a little bit after first five matches in which they showed some solid performances (win over Vojvodina and good resistance in Brest), while Slovenians are in series of tough matches in VELUX EHF Champions League, but also in quite good form presented in home win over Kielce and draw against Meshkov Brest.
Ivan Petkovic, Dinamo Pancevo coach:
First of all, I would like to look back on what we have done in previous years, when we "earned" to play against a team like Celje. Slovenian team wants to play on Final4. They have a great squad. Just the fact that they beat Kielce, describes them well enough. My colleague Branko Tamse is doing a great job. They have Mitrovic, Mlakar, Anic, Slovenian NT goalie Lesjak and many great young players, the best in Europe. Also, they signed Dujshebaev. Celje PL are favorites and that isn't something new. We are in better healthy status than in previous weeks, but it still isn't good enough. I can promise that we will be focused and give our maximum and we'll see what it brings us. I'd like to invite our fans to come and support us.
Jovan Stojanovic, Dinamo Pancevo playmaker:
Our rivals are a team which plays very good in two competitions, SEHA GAZPROM league and EHF Champions League. Their biggest weapon is fast transition and it will be a huge challenge for us to stop it. We have, finally, complete roster, and for sure, it's gonna be better. We didn't play in Pancevo for such a long time, so I hope that fans are eager to come and support us.
Branko Tamse, Celje Pivovarna Lasko coach:
Dinamo are a mix of young and some experienced players. Here in Slovenia the most known is Milan Mirkovic, left-handed player that is the most experienced in the squad. I saw all their matches and I can say they really played quality handball against Meshkov and Vojvodina. At home they mostly play in full strength, which was not common for games they have played on the way so far. I expect they will play fast and I expect an interesting game. At the same time however I have to point out that we want to win there, but we are aware that is not going to be easy. We have just played Champions league match against Meshkov and it would be nice to have some additional days to prepare and no long travel. But this is reality and we are now quite familiar with this schedule. There should be no excuses.
Ziga Mlakar, Celje Pivovarna Lasko right back:
We did not have much time after Champions league match and maximum regeneration has to be our main focus. A difficult away match in Pancevo is in front of us. In SEHA league there are no easy matches, especially when playing as guests. That's why maximum focus has to be our priority and we have to prepare well. They are newcomers in the league, we saw some of their matches and I'm sure we'll see some more as well before the first whistle.
Match is scheduled for Tuesday (19.00 CET) and will be broadcasted on TV Arena Sport, Sport TV (Slovenia) and web platform - EHF TV.