After yesterday`s press-conference from FK Partizan Caretaker President Rasim Ljajic, it was time for introduction of another two key members of the new management – Predrag Mijatovic and Danko Lazovic.
Rasim Ljajic was first to address media reps.
“We will meet at least once a week to look at current matters and try to solve things, offer solution for existing problems regarding club`s functioning. We are ready to dig deep to create different and better atmosphere in aim to build better and more successful football club. Decision from the die-hards to return to our home ground is of paramount importance to us and we expect them in great number for a game against Cukaricki.
The appointment of Mijatovic and Lazovic means a lot more than any financial or other help. They were not forced to do take on this job, to get out of their comfort zone. Therefore, they deserve the gratitude of all Partizan fans”, said Rasim Ljajic.
Predrag Mijatovic joined in.
“Our talks started recently, we didn`t really think we would be here but we are fully aware what to expect, how much effort is we need to build something new. We came here to work and our message is that we will deal with all the problems in all departments. Rasim Ljajic said there are many things we need to start and do and will need time for it. I would be more than thrilled to tell you today how I have a magic wand but the situation is so much different. When you decide to solve certain problems, you have to look at the realistic state of the things you are dealing with first. We received some info, took a quick look and met with some strange things but we will solve them one by one. We all need full positive energy, ourselves, coaching staff and players. We will only get that energy from our fans. It`s easy to be Partizan supporter when you win titles.
I`m excited, being back in Partizan after 30 years. I`m positively excited with a clear idea what we want to do here. But, I need to ask for time. We cannot do things overnight, we all know that. I also ask you to help us, we all need to be positive, to send positive messages. We are here to explain everything we are going to do, what our aims are. We cannot set priorities yet as we have to do analysis first, to see where the problems are, what we need to do. Unfortunately, time is scarce in football; domestic league is in full swing. We had tough game yesterday but we made a comeback and that`s the message – from negative and tough result into positive one. That`s what we want to happen all over the club.
There will be decisions not everyone will be happy with but if things were right, we wouldn`t be sitting here. Let`s do everything within our powers to take the new path with new energy, for everyone who loves Partizan to be next to us, fans who were booing to start applauding. Let`s transfer everything into a good energy.
This is our home and we have no problems in making tough and unpopular decisions. We have no fears do to our job but all we need is support. As much as we are to be energetic, we need media and fans to show us unity, to us and to our team on the field. We need to be as one to move towards solving this complicated situation. It`s hard but it`s not unsolvable and we here to fix it together.
I battled to get results with Real Madrid and I believe I can deal with this here. We just need to be together in all this, to make right and transparent decisions”, said Predrag Mijatovic.
Danko Lazovic also addressed the media.
“I had no doubts when I was called to join in. It`s so nice to be Partizan fan today when it`s hard and you see other Partizan fans ready to help. We`ll make decisions, we`ll talk to everyone and I hope Partizan will be back where it belongs. This club produced players; I came here when I was 13. I hope those happy days will come back. We need time to define problems, there`s lot of them scattered all around”, said Lazovic.
Back to Mijatovic.
“Honestly, I don`t know how I ended up here today but it`s getting clearer now. We met twice and made an agreement two days ago, at the last minute but I said to myself how is it possible for me to be here. At the same time, I would like to praise Ljajic who won me over and made me do this. I have no interest in this I simply got a call from deep inside myself as a Partizan fan. We are struggling for years now; journalists call me when things are not good at the club. I was always mildly fond of Partizan work and optimistic about it but I kind of knew I was wrong. I am absolutely aware of everything that goes on here now.
We talked to Milosevic and he has full support from us. If he wasn`t our coach now, I would certainly bring him in because he is one of us, he is Partizan fan who can understand our position. We don`t need Guardiola, we need our Savo. We don’t need general director but someone who knows the inside his home. My message to the players, who we will meet and talk to, is the following: we can forgive a missed opportunity, penalty-kick but we cannot allow someone not being professional, being nonchalant and always blaming someone else”, said Mijatovic.
More from Rasim Ljajic.
“I spoke to die-hard fans for around ten days; I wanted to hear their view. They said they will be back when the management changes but they were also skeptical. I`ve seen their announcement today and their decisions is rational, to the benefit of Partizan and all Partizan fans should follow it”, said Ljajic.
Danko Lazovic:
To be honest, nothing looks good; we need to work on everything. We need to see the real state of the affairs as we have some info only but we will live with all that from now on. We`ll talk to everyone, bringing reasonable decisions in the interest of Partizan. Of course, our academy is the most important as it`s historically the backbone of the club. But, we will not forget ongoing season and ambitions of our senior team. We want make radical decisions as that`s not in club`s interest but we will soon find the path to take”.
Predrag Mijatovic:
“We will make detailed analysis but I don`t know how much time we will need as we will not make decisions just for the sake of it, to leave a good impressions. There`s no need to rush. We know this team as much as all Partizan fans do. There will be changes probably and we`ll see if we can strengthen our squad in January, but I`m not sure we`ll be able to. We have to work with what we have. We are not at fault for this situation and we are not looking at culprits, we are here to find solutions. If we fix everything, we might go back to this and ask ourselves who did this to Partizan. We might make wrong decisions too, just give us time, space and positive energy so that we make as few mistakes as possible.
Rasim Ljajic:
“At the moment, Partizan has to play 319 wages per month, 55 players, 35 scholarships and the rest are club employees in different areas. As in any company, when you have no significant income, you have to economize where we can. Some wages packages have to be cut while Mijatovic and Lazovic will take a look if there`s space for savings at the sporting department. Players yearly wage are 10 million Euros per year total. We have to save where it`s possible and to make it socially fair as much as possible. You can`t reduce wages to a person getting 500e but someone who gets 10,000e, he won`t feel as much damage if hius wages are a bit reduced. We are talking about people`s livelihoods and I don`t want us to be unfair to anyone but we will have to do something to save Partizan. It would be perfect if someone would come down with a bag full of money, to cover all the expenses but even if we had that, we still need to change the model this club works under.
Danko Lazovic:
“I don`t know what in store for us financially, Partizan is in a big trouble. What I will insist on is this never to happen again to this club. I find it hard not being able to say we will have a better squad in January. After such debts, who can we sign?”.
Predrag Mijatovic:
“This is going for too long but it would not be fair from me to criticize anything now. Four years ago, Partizan`s youth academy was second-best in Europe and now we are seeing it gradually disappearing, kids are leaving us. It has to stop. This is not a one-man show, I have no magic wand, just love for this club I`m indebted to and I`ll to anything to stop this downfall. Our academy is the source of club`s income and any other talks regarding Partizan financing are pointless at this moment of time”.
Rasim Ljajic:
“We had opportunity to meet the rest of the current management today and it`s clear how much Mijatovic and Lazovic mean to the branding of Partizan. If I had a company, I would bring them two. Our aim is to rebrand Partizan and to introduce discontinuity with the previous period, as well as regarding media relations and club`s organization. We are creating Partizan 2.0. There`s no other way, we are here to implement what`s contemporary in today`s football game.
