Serbia is set to host Greece, and Veliko Paunović emphasized Dusan Tadić’s return to the national team, as well as the positive atmosphere that has been created within the “Plavi” ranks.

The Serbian coach emphasized that the presence of the experienced attacking midfielder has already had a positive impact on the team, both on the field and in terms of team spirit.

Finally, he cited Greece as a role model for Serbia, due to its significant rise in the UEFA rankings and the large number of players competing in the top five leagues.

Here’s what he said in detail:

On Tadić’s return to the Serbian national team: “I don’t give much credit to Tadić’s return; it was something that was deep within him. Knowing the player’s perspective, I don’t think he had closed that chapter. The fact that he returned is entirely his own achievement. I simply initiated a conversation with them, and I’m glad he’s here today. I can say that from the very moment he arrived, the atmosphere has been completely different. His calm demeanor, his cheerful nature, his personality, and his self-confidence—not to mention his on-field abilities—have had an immediate impact on the team and all of us around it.”

On the atmosphere awaiting him at “Raiko Mitić”: “The last time I was there as a player was wearing the Olympiacos jersey, when we beat Russia 4-3. Before that, I played in the 100th derby as a Partizan player when I was 17 years old. I’m expecting a great atmosphere and for the fans to support us. Love isn’t something that’s demanded—it has to be earned—and we’re trying to ensure our team performs in a way on the field that will earn the fans’ support. Right now we’re in a rebuilding phase, and we need the team and the fans in the stands to come together as one.”

On the lineup: “We have 29 players on the roster, which gives us tactical flexibility. We’re not ruling anything out; you should never be inflexible in soccer. One of the reasons we called up this many players is that we’ll have four games, something that hasn’t happened before. We’ll see how we can best manage these four games, as they’ll be extremely demanding for the players.”

On Ivan Jovanović: “We don’t know each other personally, but I’m familiar with his work, his career, and his successes as a coach. In that sense, I know him very well. To me, he’s an excellent example of a colleague who has had a long and successful career and has left his mark. Whether it’s an advantage for the Greeks that their coach is Serbian can be viewed from both sides. It will be unusual for him to play against his home country’s national team, but he’s a professional.”

On Greece: “Greece serves as a model for Serbia. Their league ranks 12th in Europe in terms of market value, while ours is 29th. Furthermore, the infrastructure, the stadiums, the competition, the fans who attend the games… I think Greece has done a very good job, and we should move in that direction, within our means.

We’ve seen how many of their young players are competing in the top five European leagues. They’re talented and have developed a solid system within their national teams. It’s all a process. When I went to Spain in 1995, they weren’t European or world champions. Over the years, they sought out different models that would take them to where they are today. The Spaniards always had the potential, but now they’ve become a benchmark for everyone.”

*photo source: fss.rs