Bolton or bust for Crvena Zvezda
Thursday, December 6, 2007
Article summary
New FK Crvena Zvezda coach Aleksandar Janković said beating Bolton Wanderers FC "would mean more than three points" in the team's fight for UEFA Cup survival.
Article body
New FK Crvena Zvezda coach Aleksandar Janković knows his side face a battle for survival in the UEFA Cup ahead of tonight's Group F tie at home to Bolton Wanderers FC.
Some momentum
The 35-year-old was brought in after Milorad Kosanović resigned in the wake of a 3-0 UEFA Cup defeat at FC Aris Thessaloniki last month and has been left with a major task on his hands with Crvena Zvezda yet to pick up a point in Group F. Having started his management career with two wins and a draw in the Serbian Superliga, Janković will go into tonight's game with a little momentum behind him.
Anxious time
"This is a tough time for me and the club," the former Crvena Zvezda player said. "The first job of your career is important for any coach and I'm giving it my all. I have spent more than 20 years in different capacities with this club. This could be the turning point in our season. Beating Bolton would mean more than three points, it would keep us in Europe and give us confidence on the domestic front."
Sole command
This is Janković's first period in sole charge of a club, having previously been most famous as the assistant to respected Serbian coach Slavoljub Muslin. Forced to retire through injury at the age of 28, Janković joined Muslin in spells at Crvena Zvezda, PFC Levski Sofia, FC Metalurh Donetsk and FC Lokomotiv Moskva, winning titles in Yugoslavia, Serbia and Montenegro and Bulgaria.
English competitors
With Bolton needing a win to maintain their UEFA Cup dream, Janković feels he knows what to expect from Gary Megson's side. "They are a typical English club," he said. "Bolton are a very strong side where the team is more important than individuals. I have seen a few of their games and I know they play much better than results suggest. We will do everything to stop them."
Fit squad
With a fit squad to pick from, Janković hopes the Serbian giants can put an uninspiring 1-1 draw at home against struggling FK Hajduk Kula in their last outing behind them. "European competition was always and will always be the greatest challenge for Crvena Zvezda," he said. "I am counting down the minutes until kick off."
