After five years, Crvena Zvezda returned to the Champions League and right at the beginning, they were met by the formidable Manchester City and Pep Guardiola.
On Wednesday, from 20:45, the citizens will cross spears with Barak Bahar’s chosen ones and thus begin the defense of the European throne against the champions of Serbia.
“The goal is always to win. First the group stage, then the knockout. We don’t think beyond Red Star, everything depends on our performance and level. We are incredibly happy to defend this crown. We were always strong at home, tomorrow is the first step”.
What does he think of Red Star coach Barak Bahar?
“I saw his work last season in Maccabi Haifa and they played well against Juventus and PSG. We analyzed what he did against those teams and I was very impressed with his courage and willingness to play. And we think that tomorrow will be similar, I am glad that we will say goodbye”.
The Catholic expert could not remember the details of his match with Red Star, but he remembers Maradona and the “heavenly lob” well.
“I remember when I was a kid when Maradona played there and his lob. That is my freshest memory. The atmosphere is always great there, those countries from the former Yugoslavia (Serbia, Croatia, Montenegro) have an incredible mentality and are serious competitors in all sports – water polo, Novak Djokovic, and others… I don’t know why, but they have something special, which makes them competitive”.
And about the style of play of the red and whites?
“Sometimes they don’t defend man-to-man, sometimes they defend, fast on the counter, we have to read them well,” added Guardiola.
“Sometimes they don’t defend man-to-man, sometimes they defend, fast on the counter, we have to read them well,” added Guardiola.
