[:hr]Prva od dvije vrlo važne kvalifikacijske utakmice je pred nama. Zeleno-žuti će već u nedjelju na Šubićevcu igrati prvo poluvrijeme razigravanja za ostanak među najboljih deset momčadi u hrvatskom nogometu. Važnosti utakmice su svjesni svi pa zato ništa nije prepušteno slučaju. Dečki se odlično pripremaju za utakmicu koju je trener Panadić najavio na uobičajenoj konferenciji za medije dva dana prije susreta. – Mislim da je vrijeme da prestanemo brojati koliko utakmica nismo pobijedili i koji su razlozi, jesu li suci, kartoni, ozljede, sve to sada prolazi dalje. Došlo je vrijeme da se svi mobiliziramo, ne samo mi treneri i igrači, već i svi ljudi oko kluba i navijači. Ovo su dvije sudbonosne utakmice koje mogu primijeniti puno stvari. Želim da zaboravimo na sve negativno do sada, a to jedino možemo napraviti kroz pristup i pokazivanjem pravog karaktera. U ovakvoj utakmici je najbitniji kolektiv, pojedinac nije bitan. Zato svi članovi ovog kluba moraju u nedjelju i srijedu dati sve najbolje od sebe što imaju. U dahu je rekao pulski strateg koji i dalje čeka svoju prvu pobjedu na službenoj utakmici na klupi Istre.

– Šibenik je ekipa koja je u sličnoj situaciji kao i mi. U ovom djelu prvenstva su imali rezultatskih problema, izgubili su 11 bodova prednosti pred Cibalijom i izgubili su poziciju na čelu ljestvice. Promijenili su trenera, ali nisu promijenili kadar, već je to ista momčad. Kazao je trener i nadodao. – Oni su borbena ekipa koja većinu stvari rješavaju kod kuće uz jednu jako dobru, pozitivnu, sportska i navijačku atmosferu. Ipak, to nije ekipa koja će izgledati tehnički savršeno. Imaju nekoliko pojedinaca koji su im dosta dobri, koji su mladi i imaju potencijala, a uz njih i nekoliko iskusnih igrača kao što je primjerice Alispahić. Imaju igrače na posudbi iz Rijeke što znači da imaju i kvalitetu. Mi smo međutim iz prve lige i u tom djelu možemo slobodno reći da smo blagi favoriti. U takve dvije utakmice će u prvom redu biti jako bitna borbenost, htijenje i želja za pobjedom.

Trener Panadić, koji je inače otkrivao sastav uoči ligaških utakmica, odlučio je da ovaj puta ipak to neće napraviti. Otkrio je tek nekoliko sitnica. – Za sada smo imali problema samo s Repićem koji se u petak vraća u trening i Vukovićem koji je u četvrtak odradio rekuperaciju. U Šibenik će otputovati 18 igrača, a na put krećemo u subotu nakon sastanka. Što se sustava igre tiče, jedina je dvojba hoćemo li igrati s jednim ili s dva zadnja vezna. Kaže Panadić koji se dotaknuo i nekoliko protivničkih igrača. – Solomon je jako interesantan mladić, dobro se kreće, brz je i snažan, ali mi smo u prvoj ligi igrali protiv puno sličnih igrača koji nam nisu stvarali velike probleme. Sviđa mi se jako i Collins koji je jako dobar lijevi bek i koji može igrati i ispred. Za Alispahića pak ne mogu reći da je brz, ali je itekako pametan igrač. On je njihova osovina, zna igrati nogomet i uvijek pametno ulazi između linija. Iskusan igrač koji može biti nezgodan ako dobije dobru loptu.

Petorica igrača u pulskim redovima imaju po dva žuta kartona. To su Bouhna, Brkić, Iveša, Hadžić i Heister. – Prva utakmica je jako bitna i zato se ne želim igrati s time. Jedino ćemo možda s Bouhnom malo pripaziti jer se ipak tek vraća iz pauze. Kaže trener koji je istaknuo kako je izuzetno bitno u prvoj utakmici zabiti gol. – Znamo što je najbitnije u ovom djelu, a to je zabiti gol, to bi bila velika stvar. Zato bih bio zadovoljan s pozitivnim rezultatom, ali da zabijemo gol. Mislim da će Šibenčani ići kao avioni, neovisno o tome što su se možda malo ispuhali na utakmici s Cibalijom. Dobro znaju što im znače te dvije utakmice, a isto tako i mi znamo.

Cibalia je u nedjelju u Šibeniku uspjela sačuvati svoj gol netaknutim, a trener smatra kako bi njegova momčad mogla neke stvari preuzeti od Vinkovčana. – Zasigurno borbenost, ali bi mi ipak trebali malo i igrati nogomet. To se može i mora, a mi imamo takve igrače koji to mogu odraditi. Međutim, trebamo biti i oprezni i organizirano se braniti i napadati, to je jednostavna stvar.[:us]First of two really important games is in front of us. On Sunday, green and yellows will play first match of qualifications to stay on the list of 10 best soccer teams in Croatia. Coach Panadic said on the press conference, how team is focusing and preparing for the game. – I think it is time for us to stop counting how many games we didn’t win, and what are reasons behind it, whether it were referees, cards, injuries, all of it is not important now. It is time that we all mobilize, not only coaches and players, but also people around the club and fans. These are two really important matches, which can change many things. I want us to forget on all negative done until now, and the only way we can do it is through showing our true character. In game like these, the most important is the team, the individual in not important. So, on Sunday and Wednesday all members of this club have to give their best. Said Panadic, who is still waiting to get his first win on an official game.
– Sibenik is a team in simmilar situation as us. In the second part of the championship they had some problems with results. They lost 11 points of advantage and the position of being on the first place. They changed coach but the team stayed the same. Said coach and added. – They are a team who fights, who is mostly finalizing result at home, where they have a true, positive and sport atmosphere created by their fans. Still, it is not a team which will look technically perfect. They have a few individuals, who are really good, young and have potential but also a few of the older, more experienced players such as Alispahić. They have players borrowed from Rijeka, which means they have quality. On the other hand, we are coming from first league, and we can freely say that we are favorites. In those two games on the first place will be really important to fight, the will and desire to win.

Coach Panadic, who would usually discover the lineups before the game, decided to keep it for himself for this time. He said just a few small details.- For now we only had problem with Repic, who will return back on Friday practice and Vukovic, who had a recuperation practice on Thursday. We are heading to Sibenik on Saturday, after our meeting and there will be 18 players who will travel. Regarding the game system, the only doubt we still have is whether we will play with one or two midfielders (behind). Said Panadic, who alo commented a few of the opponent’s players. – Solomon is a really interesting young guy, he has a good movement, he is fast and strong, but we played against many simmilar players, who didn’t create us big problems. I like Collins, who is a really good left back and who can also play in front. For Alispahic I can’t say he is fast, but he is really smart player. He is their base, knows how to play soccer and is always smartly entering between the lines. He is an experienced player who can be un pleasant to play against if he get a good ball.

Five of the players from Istra have two yellow cards. Those are Bouhna, Brkić, Iveša, Hadžić and Heister. – First game is really important and that’s why I don’t want to play with it. We are only going to be carefull with Bouhna, since he is getting back from a small injury. Says coach, who highlighted how it is really important to score a goal in first game. – I know what is the most important in this part, and it is scoring a goal, that would be a big thing. I think that Sibenik will play as really good despite the fact that they deflated themselves against Cibalia. These two games means a lot to them, same as to us.

On Sunday, Cibalia successfully kept their goal untouched, and coach thinks how his team learned something from Cibalia.- They have learned about what it means to fight, but they still have to play soccer. It can be done and we have a few of the players who can do it. However, we have to be carefull and be organized in defense and attack, that’s a simple thing.[:]