Stjepan Tomas: "It felt like we were playing at our own stadium"
Head coach of FC Sheriff Stjepan Tomas after the victory of our club in the second leg of the second qualifying round of the Champions League over the Slovenian "Maribor" 1:0:
- Congratulations to the players on the victory! The most important thing is that we have passed. In terms of the game - in Maribor and Chisinau, we showed that as a team we are better than the Slovenes. Only we didn’t score away, but it worked out at home. I knew it would be hard. Maribor also played the first match with the Belarusian Shakhtar at home - 0:0, and then achieved a victory away.
- The only goal in 4 games, not including an own goal. Do you think this will not become a problem in the next matches with implementation, because there are a lot of chances and very few goals?
- In attack, we brought a new player Tejan. He needs adaptation. We hope he will help us. Indeed, there were many moments, but this is actually a new team and we need time. The most important thing is that we have not missed a single goal in the four games we have played.
- Do not think that we want to criticize you. Just reflect and hear your opinion. When the match ended and Momo Yansane was not on the field, the thought crept in that he had an injury and could not enter the field. Then you made a decision, released a player on the lawn and he scored. But there is a feeling - if Momo appeared 10 minutes earlier, he would have played even more productively.
- I also thought and told Momo after the 60th minute to get ready to enter the field. Maybe. you are right about his earlier appearance, but the most important thing is that he actively came out, had two chances, did not score in one, and in the second case he brought us victory.
- The next rival of Sheriff is Viktoria from the Czech Republic. What is your opinion - what are the chances?
- A very decent team, but we, first of all, count on a gradual increase in the level of our own game.
- The stadium was filled to 80 percent. Did you feel the support of the fans?
- Thanks to those who came from Tiraspol and those who came to the game in Chisinau! The atmosphere was really football. It felt like we were playing at our own stadium.
- You have passed two Balkan barriers. Is this an achievement for you? Will this be on your specialist track record?
- Our country is ex-Yugoslavia. I was born in Bosnia and I know both Zrinjski and Maribor well. I follow the championships of Bosnia/Herzegovina and Slovenia. The most important thing is that we won and passed these strong teams.
- Will the fact that you passed to the third qualifying round of the Champions League be comforting for you? You appeared in the press conference hall and immediately declared: “We are already in the Conference League group!”. Let's not raise the bar further, shall we?
- We have set goals. We will solve them step by step. Of course, we dream and want to get into the Champions League group.
FC Sheriff Press Office