After an unprecedented debacle and a sleepless night at the Marakana, Crvena Zvezda general director Zvezdan Terzić addressed the public at an extraordinary press conference, with a grand apology to the fans for the team’s performance.
At the beginning, Terzić explained why the press conference was not held last night.
-I want to apologize to you for last night’s unheld conference. It happened that Dejan Stanković resigned and was not in a state to appear before the media. The entire coaching staff resigned and there was no one to come. A sleepless night is behind us – Terzić said.
He then directly addressed Crvena Zvezda’s play and emphasized that he does not remember a worse performance by the club.
-I would start this conference with one big apology for the game Zvezda displayed last night. I was at the stadium for the first time when I was 11 years old, against Borussia, it was 0:3. Since then, I do not remember a worse performance by Zvezda. I cannot believe that Zvezda could look this bad. One big apology – stated the red-and-whites’ general director.
Terzić said that he understands the anger and dissatisfaction of the fans, as well as the chants that were heard from the stands.
-I understand the dissatisfaction of the fans, I also understand the chants. I probably would have, if I were in the West stand, shouted ‘Board out’ – Terzić said.
Precisely because of the fans’ dissatisfaction, but also after 12 years of leading the club, Terzić announced extraordinary elections for the new leadership of Crvena Zvezda.
-We are aware that this is on our account and we do not run away from responsibility. Zvezda, according to its statute, is organized in the most democratic way. Every club member has the right to vote and every member can be elected. We had democratic elections and no one applied except Svetozar Mijailović – Terzić pointed out.
He added that the club decided to call extraordinary elections.
-Regardless of the fact that a new mandate was obtained, we made the decision to call extraordinary elections for the new leadership of Zvezda. I am sending a message to all interested parties to prepare. After 12 years of managing Zvezda, maybe it is indeed time for new people – Terzić said.
The general director of the red-and-whites called on interested candidates to run in the elections in December.
-If anyone thinks that with a total budget of 9.2 million euros they can do better than us, organize yourselves and take over Zvezda. You will have our support – Terzić said.
He emphasized that the club achieved significant results over the past 12 years, but also that a large part of the success was the result of high risk.
-We won ten titles and ten group stages in Europe. I would like them to surpass us. Everything we create beyond that money is a great adventure, a great risk, and a great magic that we have been making for the last 12 years. We have a budget of 104 million, while the fixed budget is 9.2 million. Everything else is our magic. Maybe someone can do better than that – Terzić said.
Terzić called on the fans to support the team in the next match, emphasizing that a fight for placement in the Europa League group stage awaits Crvena Zvezda.
-Before the elections, I would ask the fans to support Zvezda, to support the boys in the match that awaits us, where we will try to secure the Europa League group stage. I don’t believe Zvezda will ever be able to assemble a higher quality team and higher quality players than we have now. Why they didn’t deliver a result, that’s for a deeper analysis – Terzić said.
He took responsibility for the result, but emphasized that regret remains over the way the team played the match.
-I carry the responsibility for this result. We will play in Europe, again probably only Zvezda among our clubs, but a bitter taste remains because of a bad match that should not have happened – Terzić said.
One of the key topics was also the question of a new head coach, following the resignation of Dejan Stanković and the entire coaching staff.
-It remains for us to submit the name of the new head coach by Friday at midnight. We have been in negotiations since last night. We had discussions and we must find a solution – Terzić revealed.
-With one big apology to all Zvezda fans and great gratitude to the fans from the North stand, who showed how Zvezda is loved – Terzić concluded.
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Source: Serbian Times, Photo: Printscreen Youtube