11.02.2011, 03:33
Popović: "Favourites? Us? No!"

Budućnost’s top player Bojana Popović refuses to recognize her team among the title candidates.

Popović: "Favourites? Us? No!"

After six consecutive victories, Budućnost suffered their first defeat in this EHF Champions League season, losing 21:20 to Oltchim in Vâlcea.

Bojana Popović, key player of the Montenegrin champions and one of the best players in the world scored four goals in Romania. She talked to ehfCL.com about the first Main Round game, and about the upcoming match against Krim Mercator.

ehfCL.com: Despite a match with mistakes in attack and plenty of missed shots from both sides, you were very close to surprise the big favourites on their home ground. What was missing?

Bojana Popović: We entered the game with the intention to play a good match and wanted to surprise Oltchim. Everyone knows how difficult is to beat them in Vâlcea, where they play really well in front of their fans.

But in the game we showed that we hadn’t come to Vâlcea with a white flag, but to fight. And that was the case in this match. In the end, the game was decided by one or two shots, by one ball on the post. Anyway, I am happy with our performance, although it was not a nice march to watch.

I am satisfied because we managed to maintain concentrated in defence, even though the attack did not function as it should, and there were many mistakes. But since we only received 21 goals, the result of the first game after a long break is not so bad.

Oltchim are the runners-up of last year’s EHF Champions League, and one of the favourites to win this year. Therefore we are not too disappointed over losing there; instead I believe this match shows that we are able to play courageous in every game, no matter if at home or away.

ehfCL.com: How important could this one-goal-defeat be for the final Main Round results?

Bojana Popović: When you lose an away game, it’s important to do it with the smallest possible goal difference. From that point of view it was good that we lost only by one goal, because we still have a match against them in Podgorica.

But, to be honest, every game is a different story. In the EHF Champions League, especially in the Main Round, all teams are very strong and they play equally well at home and away. To win any game in that stage requires that you play a very good game.

ehfCL.com: On Sunday you will meet Krim Mercator at home. The Slovenian champions won the first game against Itxako. Since you are playing at home and still are without points, are you under pressure?

Bojana Popović: We are not under pressure, we will play like in the first match and give our best. That's the allure of playing in the EHF Champions League – every game is important, no matter where it is played. We love to play in our "Morača" hall, and we look forward to that match. Krim might have more confidence after defeating Itxako, but we are going to try to win the match.

ehfCL.com: After all six victories in the Group Matches, Budućnost were named one of the favourites to win the league. How do you see your chances?

Bojana Popović: How could Budućnost become a favourite against any team? Our opponents have been the best teams of the EHF Champions League over the past years. Due to their large budgets, they have quality players on every position.

It is known that in the last years Budućnost has never come further than the Group Matches. So I believe that all the other teams are favourites when they are playing against us. And we will just go step by step, and think about one match at the time, because we have no right to think differently.

TEXT: Saša Jončić
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