VIDEOCONFERENCE OF THE HEAD-COACH LJUBIŠA TUMBAKOVIĆ

After release of the list of players for the starting matches in UEFA Nations League and matches with Russia and Turkey, head-coach Ljubiša Tumbaković held a videoconference where he answered many questions submitted by media.

Is there a solution for the right wing position? National team has been having an issue with this position for a long time now…

-Issue of a right winger is conditionally a part of question of the play system that will be there when it’s about our next three opponents. The line-up is only a bit modified in comparison to the last one, and because of the virus situation we did not have a lot of room for scouting; we have been making sure that the way and model of the game are adapted to the game our players have in their clubs. I don’t know if this is a chronic issue, a time and space come when you don’t have enough players on certain positions. Gudelj as a winger? He was a right winger in U21 team, but his whole career is in the middle of the field… In my mind, I don’t see him in that position.

How big is a problem of player arrivals from holidays or preparations…?

-It is a big problem, and all that is a consequence of rescheduling because of the coronavirus. For all of us in this business this is a completely new methodological approach to work. At one moment we didn’t even know when the championships were to be continued, and the players had to adjust to all of that. All those leagues played or not completed, as in the Netherlands or France… during that time, players had a process of work or no-work that had lasted, and then again there was a case of England where they played matches… All in all, a strange atmosphere for football and all of us working. We have a situation that one group of players finished their preparatory period and started their competitions, and we also have a situation with some leagues just being completed; players are practically on their holidays. We have a range of work, no-work, holidays… and we have to level it all and play two matches in six days. Everyone is facing the same problem, not only us, I don’t want this to sound like I am looking for an excuse…

Status of Nemanja Matić?

-Nemanja is a confirmed and regular national team player. I am happy that all our players had been scanned, our coaches were scouting; we have all the necessary information, and Nemanja will get a new contract too, not accidentally.

Have all the misunderstandings with Grujić and Jović been ironed out, they were not on the team for a while…

-We ironed out everything with Jović already in December, and that’s been covered, and Grujić is a guy I have been observing since his youth days. An opportunity has arisen at this moment for him to get a chance, I put him on the list and it’s on him to respond. And I don’t know and don’t care what happened before.

There are no players from Crvena zvezda and Partizan or the Super League on the list…

-I said we scouted more than 40 players and it has always been my idea to affirm our league too, namely to have some Super League players on the list. Everything is turned upside down now because of everything I mentioned before and the assessment was that it would be better for them to remain in the training process in their clubs and respond to the clubs’ European challenges. If there is to be a need for any of them, we can always count on them.

Is the Nations League goal to qualify for the A division?

-There are requirements and objectives, but it’s not easy to give an answer to that one at this very moment, since all of those who compete want a result. Serbia must always be equal and offer its maximum, we always want the best, but the present priority is our play-off performance. Something that is top of the tops is our Oslo match, everything is subject to the EURO qualification.

Right winger again…

-The system is player positions on the field, and whether or not some of the players will respond on the right wing position depends on the opponent’s quality and game style.

About summoning Strahinja Pavlović…

-Strahinja was in our files already in March, we had serious plans with him even then, bit only the circumstances led to the fact that he is here now when also wearing a jersey of a new club…

Luka Milivojević is absent…

-We are in contact with all potential national team players and I said that we had to define some things in those two matches ahead of us. Luka is a confirmed player, we talked before in London and I opted for some other players… Luka is always here and we count on him.

How will the team gathering look like in this kind of situation?

-That’s a question for the medical staff that received guidelines from UEFA with everything explained in great detail – when, what and how.

You have announced a talk with Branislav Ivanović…

-To be honest, when it’s about the list of players I am a bit peculiar and I am bothered a bit with that question on what we had been talking about. They have all been scanned, before and now, and every player has his own personality. Simply put, a head-coach has a right to make a list in accordance with the game he’s planning. Ivanović is a player with a great career, he was in the national team, he finished it and he is starting a new story now.

Russia as the first opponent?

-Russians have already played four rounds, we have scouted them and it is a question what team they will field. One group said good bye after the World Cup, and the other one is still to do that. They are preparing themselves for the European Championship and I guess that their player list will have some changes.

Will all the players have a chance to play?

-I have always summoned 25 or more player; the list is mirroring the new situation. There is always a concern that someone can be with a positive test result, God forbid… I really believe all will be fine – conclude Ljubiša Tumbaković.