Erwin van de Looi introduced himself to the Slovenian football public for the first time today at a press conference. Upon signing the contract, the new Dragons’ strategist didn’t hide his satisfaction and said: “I’m very excited to lead the team. As with every club, I want to ensure progress this time as well.”
About the Olimpija he has seen: “I’ve watched the last two matches, and the idea of play I saw is very similar to my philosophy. However, like all teams, we also have room for improvement. Some players have left the club, some have arrived, so it’s important that the guys get used to our style of play. I have quite a few ideas for progress here as well. This comes with hard work, which I expect from everyone. First and foremost, from myself.”
About the upcoming challenge in Europe: “We don’t have much time to prepare for the match against Egnatia. I’ve already spoken with the previous coach about the first match, and we’ll likely make some minor changes. We only have 3 training sessions until the match, which is usual for a club in European competitions, where we want to continue playing. We know a tough match awaits us, but we’ll give our all to win it.”
About Slovenian football and the First League: “Slovenian football is improving at a surprising rate. Olimpija is a club that must fight for the championship title in the league and cup, but looking at the opponents, it’s clear that this is not an easy task. The clubs are well-organized, and therefore there are no easy matches. Football is developing rapidly, and we have a strong league in Slovenia as well.”
About what kind of play we can expect from his Olimpija: “I like my team to be dominant and attacking. However, I don’t want us to be naive and neglect defense. My belief is that a club like Olimpija must win, and do so in a certain style that isn’t just constant defending. Of course, there will be moments when we’ll have to defend, but our goal will always be to seek attacking solutions. Along with this, I want the spectators to enjoy and support the team.”
