Squad returns to training

After a six-week break, Partizan squad returns to training starting with regular medical tests.

Partizan young guns were tested first, before they move onto the training field on Wednesday.

We spoke to FK Partizan club doctor Sinisa Petkovic today:

-Medicals consist of two parts – sport-medical examination and physical load test. Those are the basic tests we do every six months for years now. You need it twice a year to check if players can actually play at all. Physical load test is more important as we can view heart rate during strain.

How does the test schedule work?

-First day is reserved for young players mainly, youths who will join first team training followed by players who are here for some time now and finally, the third group consisting of foreign players.

Besides youngsters already part of the first team – Mihajlo Ilic, Mihajlo Petkovic and Vanja Vlahovic – opportunity to train with the seniors is presented to Djordje Petrovic, Luka Subotic and goalie Matija Gocmanac as well as youths Janko Jevremovic and Mateja Stepanovic.

We also spoke to number of Partizan young players.

Vanja Vlahovic

How did you spend mid-season break?

-I had a bit of rest over the last ten days after a played for Partizan youths. When the first team was on a break I trained with youths and played final two games before mid-season break. We won both matches and secured top spot at half-season.

You were already part of the first team preps. What did you find the hardest of all?

-Last time around, I found it hard to adapt. It`s going to be different now as I know the story. It will be easier for me.

Nemanja Jovic

What do you find the hardest regarding preps?

-Running, as everyone does. Plain and simple running.

What do you expect from Partizan for the remainder of the season?

-As the last season – to battle in championship and Conference League. We move on to strong practice now to get ready as much as possible.

Mihajlo Ilic

What do you find the hardest regarding preps?

-Preps under Aleksandar Stanojevic and Ilija Stolica were truly demanding and strenuous but basic running practice is probably the hardest. That`s what awaits us now, early in the preps. Afterwards, we`ll have a number of friendlies and I hope everyone had some rest ahead of this tough period.

What do you expect from Partizan for the remainder of the season?

-We`ll do our best and enter the rest of the season fully ready for the both competitions we are in. We`ll go for a win in each and every game.

Zlatan Sehovic

How did you spend mid-season break?

-With my family and my girlfriend. I had a holiday when the season was stopped, spent some time in Egypt and Paris until 5^th of December when I started individual training as set by our physios. It was a long break due to a World Cup so we all had a nice rest.

What do you find the hardest regarding preps?

-It`s always the early part, some twenty days at our training centre when it`s going to be more physical above all – running or ball games. I look forward to full preps and five or six arranged friendlies.

What do you expect from Partizan upon restart of the season?

-A really strong restart! I think we`ll look better both domestically and in Europe. We didn`t give up on anything, we`ll battle until the very end!

MIhajlo Petkovic

What do you find the hardest regarding preps?

-I guess it`s the same for everyone – running around with no contact with the ball.

What do you expect from Partizan?

-Attacking football, to play to win all the time, everyone to be there hundred percent, to keep on going.

Samed Bazdar

What do you find the hardest regarding preps?

-Running, as everyone does. There will be tough training sessions but it will be much easier later on.

What do you expect from Partizan?

-Everyone to be healthy with God`s help. Let us all prepare in a best possible fashion and try to get to the top of the table. I think we can do that!

Matija Gocmanac

What are your desires with Partizan and who are your role models?

-My greatest desire is to find my spot under the sun, to show what I`m capable of and to stay there, if possible. Above all, my role model is Manuel Neuer and I would like to get close to his level; Emiliano Martinez from Argentina as well. Domestically, it`s Vladimir Stojkovic. I had an opportunity to work and train with him, a great professional.

Luka Subotic

What are your desires with Partizan and who are your role models?

-As for the preps, I want to go through them healthy as I had injury troubles in the past. My role model is my dad, I have no football role models.

Number of senior players are engaging in medical tests today as well – Danilo Pantic, Slobodan Urosevic and Svetozar Markovic.

Svetozar Markovic

What do you find the hardest regarding preps?

-Running and no ball involvement. It easy when we play football, including games over the half length of the pitch.

What do you expect from Partizan for the remainder of the season?

-I expect us to be ready for the restart. We have enough time, around six weeks, to get ready. I expect we`ll all be ready to do our job when it it`s needed.

Danilo Pantic

What do you find the hardest regarding preps?

-Nothing is easy but it`s running that I find particularly hard. There will be lots of practice and we`ll have to be focused to prepare the best we can. Running is definitely the hardest and it marks the early preps. You have to focus your head on it but once it`s over, we start working with the ball and everything is smoother.

What do expect from Partizan for the rest of the season?

-Not so much different Partizan compared to first part of the season. We played good football game but we failed to win number of games against oppositions who played behind the ball. We`ll have to work on attacking such teams, to break those defensive lines but everything else should remain the same or get even better.