SSL round 1: TSC v Partizan preview

Partizan is away to TSC on Saturday (9pm CET kick-off) as part of opening Mozzart Bet Serbian Super Liga fixtures of the season.

H2H (last six)

Partizan 5, TSC 0, Drawn 1. Gd: 15-5.

TEAM NEWS

Janko Jevremovic is the only long-term absentee. Keeper Jovanovic (illness) will miss this one while Saldanha is still to be officially registered to play. Newcomers Severina and Kalulu are yet to be fully fit for a 90 min play.

Partizan boss Igor Duljaj ahead of TSC away:

-It will be hard away to last season`s runners-up. They are a great team with ambitious coach who loves total football. There`s always been lots of goals scored when we go away to TSC. It will be hard if we don`t have our supporters there but from what I`ve heard, they`ll be there. Without them, we cannot achieve what we want.

We can`t do worst than last season. Nobody believed we can finish fourth-placed but it happened. I am partly responsible for that.

We have quite a few new players. Club did everything possible to get new signing early on. This is the first time in few years we can only talk about what`s the best for Partizan. We all realized what we need and pushed forward to one and only aim – to get new players as soon as possible.

Fans want to see different types of players, something new, something better. That`s life – one day coach is there, the next day you have another one. Same goes for players. We made thorough analysis and looked for what`s best for Partizan. We picked defensive midfield profile, winger profile, defender or attacker profile that suits us.

Besides results, Partizan fans are interested in our playing style. We have lots of quality players who can do things, it`s only that some of them arrived later and they need some time, that`s something we cannot control. We were not brilliant during pre-season but official games are something else and we`ll see tomorrow how it all looks like.

At the moment, we have only three centre-backs in our roster, we need another signing there. There`s a bit of a problem down the attacking flanks as Jevremovic picked up an injury. There`s young Trifunovic to jump in his boots. We played him a lot during pre-season, he showed great potential and he`ll get his minutes on the field surely.

Severina started team training only last week. He cannot handle full 90 mins pace. Same goes for Kalulu. Kanoute is with us for more than three weeks. Saldanha can play upfront and behind the striker. He`s young, quick and loves possession. Kalulu can also play in all attacking positions.

PHOTO GALLERY: SANDIC PHOTOGRAPHY