Slavko Ivezič: Serious job in Celje

Celje Pivovarna Lasko will begin the Main Round against Pick Szeged. The Slovenian squad started the season with Kasim Kamenica coaching, but after the defeat against the Icelandic Valur, the former sports director, Slavko Ivezič, took over coaching staff.

In the following period Celje have beaten the Hungarian silver medallists, MKB Veszprém, and also the German Gummersbach. The Slovenians reached the Main Round and Slavko Ivezič talks to us.

Eurohandball.com: Are there injuries in the team?

Slavko Ivezič: After European Championship in Norway we have a lot of problem. Renato Sulić will be out for a longer period, and the other line player, Alem Toskić, has been injured since the beginning of the season. In addition, David Špiler, Dragan Gajič, goalkeeper Aljoša Rezar and Aljoša Čudič also have smaller problems.

Eurohandball.com: According to your team's form last year what do you have to improve in order to reach the CL semi-finals?

Slavko Ivezič: The teams are equal in the group. To reach the semi-final we have to win all the games in Zlatorog hall and at least one away game.

Eurohandball.com: You'll meet a Hungarian team again after you have already played against Veszprém. Do you expect a tougher match against Szeged?

Slavko Ivezič: Veszprém and Szeged are great teams, but I think that our current opponents have a different style. We played against Szeged already in previous seasons and I know that they have a different style as the other teams. Their defence is really great and the players are good in attack too. Pick are really tough opponents.

Eurohandball.com: Which team do you think will be your toughest opponents in the group: Barcelona, Pick or Gudme?

Slavko Ivezič: The group is really equal as I already said. There is not just Barcelona, but also Pick, Gudme and our team. It will be hard for any team to win this group.

Eurohandball.com: You have become Celje's coach in November. What are your feelings about it? How big a challenge was it for you?

Slavko Ivezič: The job in Celje is not a joke. When I took over we had just one goal to go on to the Main Round of the Champions League. Today, the goals are different and we want to finish the group at least on the second place so that we can say at the end that we are really among the top teams of Europe.

Special thanks to Matic Flajšman for his help in the interview.