Rakčević: Dinamo will not be an easy job

After reaching the Last 16 for the first time, HC Metalurg Skopje are a step away from their first ever quarter-final of the VELUX EHF Champions League.

With a 26:23 win in Minsk, Metalurg are the strong favourites on Saturday, 23 March against Dinamo Minsk in front of their home fans.

But the Macedonians are well aware that the game in Skoplje will be anything but easy.

“It won't be an easy job, as someone might, perhaps, think after we won the first game.

“On the contrary, Dinamo are a very good team. They were under lot of pressure in the game at home, but they are coming to Skopje without burden, because they have nothing more to lose.

“Probably they are going to take all necessary risks, they will play for all or nothing.

“But, we are ready for this, we firmly keep our feet on the ground, and wait for the second leg,” Metalug line player Mladen Rakčević told ehfCL.com.

Rakčević was one of key players in the win in Minsk, scoring seven goals (Naumče Mojsovski was the top scorer with nine goals) with a perfect 100% shooting rate.

Thanks to a hard-earned away victory at Minsk, the Macedonian team took revenge for the defeat in the final of the 2010 qualification tournament for the European top flight in Lisbon.

But now, Metalurg wants more in the Boris Trajkovski hall.

"All 7000 tickets were sold out literally in three hours. So, we expect a hell of an atmosphere, perhaps like never before, even though we always had great support from our fans.

“Hopefully we'll do our best for all 60 minutes, make the biggest success in Macedonian men's handball history," added Rakčević.

A couple of days before the second game with Dinamo, the Montenegrin national team player, who scored a career record 35 goals VELUX EHF Champions League, extended his contract with Metalurg for two more years, which means he will stay in Skopje at least till June 2015.

"I am happy and pleased because of the new contract. I have been playing in Macedonia for eight years, first in Vardar and then for Metalurg, and it was important for me that the club is satisfied with me.

“The fact they offered me a two year contract instead of one year, means they are satisfied, me too.

“Having found this situation perfect for me, it is with great pleasure that I extend the contract," Rakčević said.

After Renato Vugrinec, Rakčević, who began his career in Lovćen, and also played for Serbian team Kolubara, is the second player to extended his contract with Metalurg.

"This season Metalurg achieved outstanding results in the Champions League and I hope we will have more success in the future.

“Ambitions in the next two seasons are to at least repeat this season’s achievements.

“Almost the whole team will stay, and we will have some reinforcements, which will be known within a month," concluded Rakčevi.