Adžić: We have achieved a huge success
Mission accomplished. Budućnost is in the Main Round of EHF Champions League, which was the goal for this season after lot of changes in the team in the summer.
Zvezda Zvenigorod´s win against Thüringer HC before the game in Podgorica meant that Budućnost secured the second place in Group D, no matter of the result against Viborg HC. Because of that only the honour was at stake in “Morača” hall.
But, the reigning champions were determined to close this phase in a style, with another win. And they did it (26:23), having been in front for a whole game, with a maximum lead by six goals.
"It was very difficult to play knowing that we are already in the Main Round. The whole week we were preparing to play a decisive game against Viborg…
It was not Zvezda Zvenigorod who gave us a chance to play in the next round, but, absolutely, we earned it with three big wins. We just confirmed that with a victory against Viborg. For a success it’s enough just to know that we left behind such a team like Viborg. But we did more, counting both matches, home and away, we were better in comparison to Thüringer HC and Zvezda Zvenigorod,” coach of Budućnost Dragan Adžić said.
Adžić stated that he is extremely satisfied with the achieved results in the Group Matches.
"It was a very difficult job. Compared to last season, when we won the title, 13 players are not in Budućnost anymore. Also, all players who stayed so far scored more goals then in the whole last season in EHF CL, except Radmila Miljanić. I believe she will do the same in the Main Round,” Adžić added.
 Adžić said that the burden of taking the team into the Main Round was handled by the players who played last season".
"They took over their responsibilities and after the Olympic Games they held out all six games without a rest and, thanks God, without big injuries.
“Large contributions, of course, goes to Claudine Mendy, Katarina Ježić and especially to Clara Woltering, who, as a captain and experienced player, provided additional strength and quality to the team.
“I think the biggest plus from the match against Viborg is that we won without Clara, what is important for us, but also for Marina Vukčević in light of coming EURO in Serbia,” the coach of reigning champions underlined.
Among possible Main Round opponents for Budućnost at the Tuesday’s draw are Randers HK, RK Krim Mercator and FTC Rail Cargo Hungaria from the second pot and two of three group winners and favourites for a trophy - Oltchim Rm. Vâlcea, Györi Audi ETO KC or Larvik.
"All three seeded team are absolute top teams, and we will have two of them in our group. Before the start of the season, our desire was to get six more games after the group stage, and through those games try to give a rise to couple of more players who can carry the responsibility in the years to come, when we aim to bring back Budućnost where it belongs, on top of Europe.All of seeded teams will be huge favourites against us, but we will fight to the end, we will not give up,” Adžić promised.
Budućnost had also a chance to top the group but the Montenegrins didn’t manage to win one of away games against Zvezda Zvenigorod or Thüringer in order to have easier opponents in the Main Round.
"It remains a dilemma what’s better. But, I, really, think that this season is better to have more games against the strongest teams. That’s the best way to see the potential of the team. So I'm not sorry that we finished second.
But, as I already said, we made a huge success, because, since I follow this competition, I don’t know any other team so young who managed to get into the Main Round,” concluded coach.
TEXT: Saša Jončić / br
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