ehfCL.com: Do you think MKB Veszprém have been drawn in the strongest groups of this season’s VELUX EHF Champions League?
Marko Vujin: Yes, our group is the toughest of all. In every game – regardless of whether you’re at home or away – you need 100 per cent attention and concentration to be successful. So noboby – including me – can say right now, which team will be the winner of this group.
ehfCL.com: What do you think were the reasons for the clear defeat at Madrid last weekend?
Marko Vujin: We didn’t carry out what we had prepared for in training, either in attack or defence, although we were unlucky in many situations. But now we are looking ahead to our next task, the big match against Chekhovskie Medvedi.
ehfCL.com: What things need to be changed in the upcoming game?
Marko Vujin: We need to improve in attack and defence. We have to stop the Russians but it will be difficult. Every player needs to be on their best form if we are to win this crucial match. The winner will stay on track for the next stage, while for the loser it will be tough to reach the Last 16.
ehfCL.com: Chekhovskie suffered a shock defeat to Kielce in their last home match – will this defeat give them added motivation to beat you?
Marko Vujin: Yes, Medvedi played very well in Rounds 1 and 2 when they tied against Berlin and Madrid, so the defeat to Kielce was unexpected. So Medvedi and Veszprém need to win on Saturday, and I expect a massive battle for the points. Medvedi reached the VELUX EHF FINAL4 in 2010 with nearly the same team – this speaks for itself.
ehfCL.com: Veszprém is one of the best home teams in the whole of the VELUX EHF Champions League. Is that just because of the great support of your spectators, or does the team usually play better than away?
Marko Vujin: It is a great advantage for us to have such a huge support at home, it’s a real motivation. But we also know that the weight of expectation at home matches is much higher.
ehfCL.com: Last season MKB Veszprém missed out on winning the group because of a defeat in Montpellier in the last round, which meant you had to face Barcelona in the Last 16. How do you rate the chances of you winning your group this season?
Marko Vujin: We would like to be top, which normally means an easier draw later in the competition. But you need a little luck at the draws, because twice in a row we were eliminated by Barcelona and Ciudad Real.
ehfCL.com: What team – aside your own – is your favourite to win this group?
Marko Vujin: Atlético Madrid will win ahead of Füchse Berlin, but Kielce and Chekhovski Medvedi are also very strong so it’s not really possible to predict who will win at the moment.
ehfCL.com: Last season you were the most effective shooter of the VELUX EHF Champions League - are you being treated differently by opposition defences since then?
Marko Vujin: I get marked very closely at every match. But my goal is to give my best in every match. The most important thing is that the team is effective, rather than that I score as often as possible.
ehfCL.com: After this season you are leaving Veszprém to join Kiel – what is your biggest wish before your farewell?
Marko Vujin: I really hope that I can say goodbye with good results - especially a good result in the VELUX EHF Champions League.
ehfCL.com: What makes your coach Lajos Mocsai so special?
Marko Vujin: He is a really high class coach, he is so good at motivating a team to get good results.