THE PRESS CONFERENCE
It was November 23rd 2015 and Damjan Andric, football journalist with Montenegrin newspaper "Dan," sat in the stuffy press room at the headquarters of the Montenegro FA. “Why on earth do they have the heating on so high?” He thought to himself as he wiped the perspiration from his forehead.
The conditions in that room were unbearable and, if that wasn’t bad enough, Damjan was here to cover the presentation of Montenegro’s new head coach... an Englishman. It wasn’t that he had anything in particular against the English but what good could come of giving his nation’s top job to a Russian speaking Englishman?
Damjan had been vocal in his newspaper column about the failings of Montenegro’s previous manager, about his disillusionment with the team’s so called golden generation too, but he had little faith that the new man was any sort of improvement. And this **** heat only served to irritate him further still.
Eyes up, the new man was now centre-stage together with the Montenegrin FA’s press officer and... who was that other guy? Damjan guessed that he was an interpreter, “what’s wrong with this picture?” He pondered.
After the usual round of boring questions from his press colleagues and predictable answers from the new manager, Damjan’s name was called out. “Damjan Andric, Dan.” He had almost fallen asleep in the room’s heat, quickly gathering himself he asked his question, the one he had submitted before the conference for approval.
“You have taken the job of Montenegro manager without being able to speak Serbian. Surely this will have a negative effect while you get to grips with the language?”
The new man spoke, in English, followed by his interpreter as he translated. “I don’t have any worries, football is a universal language.”
“We’ll see about that,” thought Damjan, “we’ll see.”
---------- Post added at 08:33 PM ---------- Previous post was yesterday at 10:17 PM ----------
THE ASSISTANT
Ever since Dan Lake had walked away from Rubin Kazan his former assistant, Dmitry Los'kov, had been out of work. On that fateful day the chairman had called Los'kov into the boardroom before telling him that Lake had resigned, therefore the club were releasing him too. Los'kov was shocked, he had first worked with Lake at FC Moscow before continuing their relationship at Rubin. During this time the two men had formed a close bond, would his colleague really leave without telling him?
Los'kov remembered being bitterly disappointed, although he knew that Lake's departure must have had something to do with the mafia's recent interest in the club.
Over the weeks that followed it became clear that Lake was working with the Police concerning Emil Khristov's activities, although Dmitry Los'kov would still have no contact with his friend. He did eventually hear from Lake, once the court case had finished. An emotional reunion had seen the pair bury the hatchet and Lake promised Dmitry that they would work together again. Although, Neither of them could hazard a guess as to when exactly that would be.
Despite the promise Lake had made him, it came as a genuine surprise when Los'kov received the call in November. Lake had said that he was phoning with good news, that he was taking the job as head coach of the Montenegrin national side and wanted Dmitry to become his assistant. Los'kov hadn't needed time to think the offer over, he was a football man and he had been apart from the sport for too long. He jumped at the chance to be involved in the game once again.
«««««
And so here he was, in the stands of the Allianz Arena, on official business watching Bayern Munich play Dinamo Minsk. "What a job!" Los'kov thought to himself. He had spent the last few weeks travelling around Europe... Bucharest, Split, Rome, Manchester, Munich, just to name a few... watching games and compiling reports on the key Montenegro players.
In his hotel room that night Los'kov spread his match reports out on the bed and gathered his thoughts. "Not bad," he spoke out loud, "we should be able to make a team out of this lot." Los'kov had high hopes, there were some quality players available for selection after all. He picked up four of the match reports and separated them from the others. "What do we have here?" He pondered.
Mirko Vucinic, striker, AS Roma. At 32 he was no spring chicken but there was no doubt that he still had the quality to terrify the most experienced of defenders.
Stevan Jovetic, striker/winger/attacking midfielder, Fiorentina. Versatile, tenacious and at the peak of his game. Jovetic would be the creative fulcrum of the team, he would create the chances that Vucinic would put away.
Simon Vukcevic, winger and attacking midfielder, Bayern Munich. Another attacking asset, Vukcevic is as comfortable hugging the touchline as he is coming inside.
Ivan Fatic, left back, AC Milan. Dynamic in attack and defence, a natural fullback with astonishing ability. He could also slot into central defence if needed but why stifle those penetrating runs of his?
Los'kov knew that if they could give the side a solid spine, a blend of creativity, good team ethic and a stoic defensive mentality, then they had a shot at making something of this bunch of players. Not world beaters maybe, but a team that could certainly cause a few upsets none the less.
