Red Star Coach Stankovic Responds Calmly Ahead of Crucial Hapoel Be'er Sheva Clash

Red Star Belgrade coach Dejan Stankovic addressed the atmosphere in Serbia ahead of his team's Champions League playoff second leg against Hapoel Be'er Sheva. After Hapoel Be'er Sheva's surprising 1-0 away win in Hungary on August 5, Stankovic acknowledged the unexpected defeat and the need for a strong response. Speaking at a press conference before Red Star's league match against Novi Pazar, he said, "It was not a loss we expected or were prepared for, it completely surprised us and all the fans." He emphasized the importance of winning the upcoming league game to maintain good morale before the decisive match in Belgrade.

Stankovic also criticized the intense public pressure in Serbia surrounding the team's qualification hopes for the Champions League group stage. He stated, "We will play football even if we do not make it to the Champions League. I do not like that everything is seen as a matter of life or death among football fans in our country. We will try to stay calm ahead of this game." The second leg in Belgrade will determine which team advances to the Champions League playoff round.