After today’s training session in the rainy Stožice, Zmaji’s coach Federico Bessone took the time to chat with reporters ahead of Sunday’s away Eternal Derby in the 16th round of the Prva liga Telemach. The match between Maribor and Olimpija will kick off at 3 PM.

Regarding preparations for the match, he said: “Just like against Celje, we had enough time to prepare for Sunday’s derby, which is extremely important in football. This gave us enough time to pass on the necessary information to the players. Overall, I am very satisfied with the past two weeks. During the break, we also played a friendly match with a positive result and, more importantly, a good performance on the field.”

Only the captain will be absent: “All players are available, with the exception of Doffo, who is suspended due to accumulated yellow cards. Since arriving at the club, I have been saying how important a player he is, and we will certainly miss him. There are no other absences, which gives me plenty of pleasant worries. Unfortunately, some players will not get a chance, which is one of the more difficult aspects of the coaching profession, but that is also part of football. All the players are working hard, so I am happy to have these kinds of concerns.”

Regarding the atmosphere in the locker room before the Eternal Derby, he added: “We are going to Maribor with confidence. Sometimes as a coach, you have some doubts and are not sure what will happen in the match, but I am extremely positive about Sunday, which I want to convey to the players. I really believe in the team and what we are building. In recent weeks, I see that we are going in the right direction, so I am also optimistic that we can win three points in the derby.”