The celebrated Serbian volleyball expert and former national team player Nikola Grbić continues to write history with the Polish national team. After winning another Nations League title, his ninth medal at the ninth major competition since taking charge of this team, Grbić spoke in a major interview with Direktno about the dramatic road to gold, his relationship with his brother Vanja, as well as the decision for his sons to wear the Serbian jersey instead of the Italian one.
The younger of the iconic Grbić brothers has won nine medals with Poland from nine major competitions. Poland defended its Nations League title on Sunday after defeating the United States national team 3:2 (25:21, 23:25, 25:27, 25:23, 15:10).
The Nations League is not the biggest trophy that can be won in volleyball, but is this medal especially dear to you for any particular reason?
-Every new gold medal is harder to win because expectations increase, and our opponents’ performances against us also improve. We constantly play as favorites and against teams that deliver their best performances in order to beat us. That is why it is not easy at all to continue and remain at this level and keep bringing medals. So it was really difficult. On the other hand, we played against an opponent that played phenomenally. I had to make a couple of substitutions and change the roles of some players so that we could eventually turn the result in our favor and win. This is my fourth gold medal with Poland and it was definitely the hardest one to win. For the first time we had a tie-break and were in a situation where we were losing 2:1, but we managed to come back and win. You are right when you say that it is not the most valuable gold, but it is very important for us, both because of the result and the medal, as well as because of the way we achieved it.
The European Championship in four countries follows from September 9 to 26, you are defending the gold and you are the favorites…
-We got a week off, and we continue next Monday. The schedule is organized in such a way that I cannot give them more time. I planned this earlier – I gave players who are active throughout the whole year a longer break at the beginning of the season, with the note that during the season they would get a maximum of one week off. We do not have much time to prepare for the European Championship, only two and a half weeks. After that we have friendly matches and tournaments, and then we go to Bulgaria where the group matches begin. Alongside Italy as the host, there is Bulgaria, which is also hosting a group, as well as Ukraine. Besides them, there is of course France, and in my opinion it will be a much tougher tournament than the VNL, mostly because the importance is higher since it secures a ticket to Los Angeles. Everyone will be maximally motivated and in their strongest squads.
How does Serbian volleyball look to you at the moment?
-Much better than last year, honestly. Some new players have appeared and I think that is a good approach. If there are no top results and a fight for gold or medals, then at least young players should be invested in, players who will mature in a few years and have a better chance. The selector’s move was good and it has already proven successful this year, because at one point they even had a chance to qualify for the final tournament. There is potential, although maybe they will not compete for gold for another few years, especially because Russia will soon return. Alongside Poland, Italy, France, Russia, America, as well as Japan and Slovenia, the competition is huge. It is not easy to stay at that level and fight for medals. Expectations have to be modified, to be realistic, to understand where we are and what we are and to behave accordingly.
You have lived outside Serbia for a long time. Is it still unusual for you when you are in the Polish national team equipment or when you listen to the Polish anthem?
-I have gotten used to it, I honestly do not pay attention to it. I changed club jerseys and equipment throughout my entire life, so I got used to it. Of course, when you wear the jersey of your own country it is a completely different feeling, but I no longer pay attention to those things. This in Poland is definitely the best professional experience I have had as a coach. I work with one of the best volleyball organizations in the world, one that has tradition, results, conditions, budget, experts and huge investments in youth development every year. Along with the Italians, they are a nation that truly nurtures and loves volleyball. We have created mutual respect, I have maximum support from the federation and players, and the results we achieve are a product of that joint cooperation.
It is known that you regularly talk and consult with your brother Vanja. He recently said that he would not allow you to return to Serbia. How do you view that statement?
-We have not specifically talked about that. I told him jokingly: “Wait, you were the first to publish a picture of my son from the camp with the Serbian flag and say that he should play for Serbia. How can he play for Serbia and I not be the coach of Serbia? It makes no sense.” Vanja and I are in regular contact. I have no problem with him saying what he thinks, he is simply like that. Everyone has the right to their own opinion. I am not saying either that I want to return or that I do not, but circumstances change and never say never. Everything is possible.
Are you and Vanja really that different in character as it appears in public?
-We are quite different in most situations and things, but we have some basic principles and values that our parents taught us, and those are completely the same. I am absolutely proud of the relationship we have because he is one of the people – there are not many in my life – to whom I can say everything I think, and he can say everything he thinks to me, and I see that as something fantastic, as a privilege, as a luxury. Because you have the freedom to say something without fear that the other person will get angry. He can get angry when I say something, and I can get angry with him when he says something, but when you calm down a little, then you realize – “wait, hold on, why would he say that to me?” Sometimes you need someone who will tell you: “Hey friend, no – you are not going in the right direction. No, what you are doing is not good.” And I know that it is much more pleasant, nicer, better and easier to have people around you who will constantly pat you on the back and tell you how fantastic you are, how nothing is your fault and everything is because of others, how you are phenomenal and everyone else is an idiot, and then you completely lose contact with reality. But when someone from the outside looks at it and without emotions can tell you: “Hey friend, think about it, what you are doing is not good,” I consider that fantastic help. So the fact that we sometimes have different opinions is not strange or bad to me at all, we have a good relationship and talk regularly.
Your sons Matija and Miloš are also involved in volleyball, how are their careers progressing?
-The older son is 19 years old. I changed the sports federation of both of them this year. Since we live in Italy, they were automatically registered with the Italian federation, and now we have transferred them to the Serbian one, so they are becoming eligible to play for the Serbian national team. My older son Matija plays for Penn State in America, but he had a serious injury and barely played the entire season. His federation change process lasted longer because he is an adult. My younger son Miloš is a minor, he plays in the youth categories of a club in Perugia, so the procedure went faster. He is already part of Serbia’s younger national team categories – he played at the European Championship under 18, and now he is going to the Balkan Championship as well. For Matija we will see whether he meets the coach’s requirements from next season.
What led you to the decision to change their sports citizenship right now?
-When they started training in Italy, you automatically get their sports citizenship so you can compete in youth club categories. That has nothing to do with civil citizenship and passports. As the time came to make decisions, I talked with my older son. He openly told me: “Dad, I don’t see myself putting my hand on my heart and singing the Italian anthem.” I think I am the only father who changed the Italian federation for another one, because usually everyone changes their original federations to the Italian one in order to play there. That decision was not made with reason, but with emotion.
Do your sons remind you of yourself or Vanja in terms of character on the court?
-They picked up a little bit of everything! Just as neither Vanja nor I were copies of our father or mother, they also picked up traits from both sides. They are excellent boys, I would not trade them for anyone in the world. They are exactly the way they should be.
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Source: Direktno.rs, Foto: Ju Huanzong / Xinhua News ; Printscreen Instagram