Budućnost: unbeatable in this season’s EHF CL?

Having won all of their 6 games in the Group Stage, Budućnost are, without question, the team of the moment in the EHF Champions League. The Montenegrians were the only team who managed to get maximum points in the group which also hosted reigning champion Viborg HK, Dinamo Volgograd and IK Sävehof. It’s the first time in the club’s history that Budućnost have managed this feat, although in 1999, they came close with five victories and one draw. Coach Dragan Adžić is the man behind the success.

ehfCL.com: Did you expect to finish top of the group with six victories?

Dragan Adžić: I believe that in any aspect of life, if you dedicate yourself to something until the end, it’s likely to bring you the desired reward.

From 18th January of this year, when I became the coach of Budućnost, the girls were totally dedicated to their job, and they even changed some of their habits from the past.

In all honesty, I didn’t believe that we could win all six of the games, but I knew that we would get satisfaction for the good work we’ve done.

ehfCL.com: You played in a strong group with former EHF CL double-winner Viborg HK, and Russian Dinamo, who eliminated you last year in the Group Stage. When did you realise that you could finish ahead of those two great rivals?

Dragan Adžić: We played in the first match against Dinamo at home, we won (29:22), and proved that we can play against the best teams.

The win in Denmark against Viborg HK (34:25) in the second match definitely raised the level of our confidence. It was easier to play after that second victory, because the belief increased.

Our best preparation was for that Viborg game and it rewarded us in the best way possible.

ehfCL.com: Even in previous years Budućnost had some good quality teams. Last year, after the elimination from the EHF CL you won the Cup Winners’ Cup and the Women’s Regional Handball League. But, that team seemed to be missing a leader. This season, the team is looking stronger and more confident. Is this mainly because Bojana Popović has joined the club?

Dragan Adžić: The arrival of Bojana Popović has undoubtedly raised the confidence of the rest of the team.

You have some athletes and players whose careers are not good examples for younger players. That’s certainly not the case with Bojana. She’s a true example for the others. Her professional attitude at training sessions and during matches can be a role model for everyone.

By the way, she’s already won five EHF CL trophies, and yet she still looks forward to every victory.

ehfCL.com: In the Main Round you will play in a group with Oltchim, Itxako and Krim. Are you happy with the draw?

Dragan Adžić: I’m not completely happy with the draw.

Thanks to our first place in the previous round, we knew that we would get only one winner from other groups, and that is Itxako. But the runner-up of their group, Oltchim, are better than the other group winners. It will not be easy. The Main Round will be a big challenge.

For Oltchim, it’s a big failure if they don’t win the EHF Champions League.

Itxako are a great team, and the club has invested a lot to reach such a high standard, which is why they won their group. It’s been a long time since a Spanish team has progressed so far. Itxako are led by three outstanding players, Barbosa, Soit and Turey. I’m sure that these three stars are not simply satisfied to have reached the Main Round.

Krim will try to do better than last season when they almost reached the semi-finals.


ehfCL.com: In your first match in the Main Round you’ll play in Romania against Oltchim. Is that going to be the hardest game away, because Budućnost lost three times in four previous meetings with Oltchim?


Dragan Adžić: The hardest thing is to play in Vâlcea against Oltchim.

Firstly though, we have to play the European Championship in the right way, and to avoid injuries, since almost all of the players in the national team of Montenegro play for Budućnost.

Afterwards we’ll have a month and a half to get ready for the Main Round and try to stay on the same level of form as in the Group Stage, or even to exceed it.

ehfCL.com: Because of the six victories you gained so far, in the eyes of many handball experts, Budućnost are now among the strong favourites for the EHF CL trophy. Do you agree?

Dragan Adžić: We are not outsiders, but there are teams who are, on paper, stronger than us.

It’s really difficult to analyse the actual strength of our rival teams, such as Larvik, Oltchim and Győr, who have all upgraded their squads with quality players since last year. Predicting which is closer to the trophy is also difficult.

I think that our play at the EHF EURO 2010, our preparation period, fitness bulletin, and mood will all dictate how we’ll start and finish the Main Round of the EHF CL.

I don’t like Budućnost being classed as the favourite by the public and media ahead of teams who, over the years, have occupied the top EHF CL places. But I’m sure it will all depend on us. The way in which we work must bear fruit, and I just hope that, for the first game in the Main Round, we will not have injury problems.