On the eve of their Conference League match, Ferencvaros coach Dejan Stankovic spoke with Sky Sport about the importance of the game, his time at the club and his career in football.
Stankovic underlined the magnitude of the upcoming clash against Fiorentina, calling it a “significant chapter for a club with a rich history.” He continued, “We want to keep moving forward and continue to grow. Having been here for three months, I’ve been welcomed remarkably well, with a fantastic president and a good team. We’re on the right track,” he said.
The Ferencvaros boss also addressed some challenges the club has faced, commenting: “Our record is heavy, but luckily we’re not too far behind in our league. We wanted to advance in the Conference League in a tough group. All three teams ahead have lost points, we can make it through the group stage and we aim to do so.”
He had high praise for Fiorentina, saying the team is “good at maintaining possession and pressuring their opponents. They put a lot of pressure on the opposition in the final third of the pitch. They’re number one in Italy in that regard.”
Stankovic also spoke about his friendship and professional respect for Fiorentina’s manager, Vincenzo Italiano. Having faced him four times as opposing coaches, Staankovic expressed admiration for Italiano’s work, especially considering the challenging circumstances.
Discussing his own career trajectory, he admitted to facing some difficulties, especially during his emotional and professional stint at Red Star Belgrade, and expressed his appreciation for Ferencvaros’ organisation and ambition. Stankovic also expressed a desire to return to Italian football in the future and confirmed that he had been close to joining Fiorentina in the past but didn’t as the club went bankrupt under then-manager Roberto Mancini. He said that he had already undergone medical checks and taken measurements for his suit. However, he had to stay at Lazio where he started playing regularly and hasn’t stopped since.