SSL: Crvena Zvezda v Partizan preview

Partizan is away to Crvena Zvezda on Friday (7pm CET kick-off) as part of Mozzart Bet Serbian Super Liga round 24 fixtures.

H2H (last six)
Crvena Zvezda 2, Partizan 0, Drawn 4. Gd: 6-3, CZ.

TEAM NEWS
Patrick Andrade (hamstring) remains sidelined. Bibars Natcho (illness) is back in contention.

New Partizan boss Igor Duljaj and team captain Slobodan Urosevic attended pre-match press-conference.
Igor Duljaj:
Everytging happened so fast. I only had two training sessions with the team but it`s good I`ve been around for few years and I know most of them. It will be extremely tough tomorrow. Some say we have nothing to lose but I don`t agree – you can both gain and lose a lot. Home side is favourite to win and I always respect the opposition regardless of the club name you face against. I also respect my team; I have faith in my players. We are not going to put the white flag up but our rivals are top of the standings and we`ll go there to show what we are capable of.
This team played some good football in the near past; they managed to beat Koln twice so I have no reason not to believe in our boys.
We have an experience side and I have nothing special to say to them. I trust them and that`s what really matters. We are here to help each other advance.
Some will say I`m inexperienced coach but I know what I`m made of. We have a game tomorrow so we`ll see what`s going to happen.
It`s hard changing things around in a space of just two days. There will be some corrections but derby game is a specific one and there`s lot of charge involved, players forget their tactical tasks…Emotions are there too, fans, lots of fighting spirit.. Most importantly, we need to wake up the next day and say we did all we could.
Crvena Zvezda is an excellent and I can promise we`ll do everything possible not to be outdone, we want to show aggression from the go. Would I be pleased with a point won? As long as the players leave their guts out there.

Slobodan Urosevic:
-Another game and another chance for us to prove ourselves. I heard comments about this derby`s timing is not good for us but I think it`s coming up in a right moment. It`s time our team to show character and fighting spirit, to leave the troubles behind. I hope for the best.
Our bitter rival has quality players able to finish the game of with a single move. We`ll have pay attention to lots of details. Most importantly, we need to play our game, to try and get back to winning ways.

PHOTO GALLERY: MIROSLAV TODOROVIC