31/10/2016 09:45
Serbian champions set sights on Champions League group stage
2017 CEV Volleyball Champions League - Men
Belgrade, Serbia, October 31, 2016. Serbian champions Crvena Zvezda BEOGRAD are finalising their preparations for the matchup with Estonia’s Selver TALLINN coming up on Wednesday, November 2 which will coincide with their debut in the 2017 CEV Volleyball Champions League – Men. On Saturday the ‘red and white’ team played a tight game against KLEK before emerging victorious at the tie-break. However, there was very little time to relax as the players immediately resumed their training before travelling to Estonia’s capital for their much anticipated Champions League premiere this season.
“The Estonian team is pretty good. We are quite sure about that because at the last European Championship Estonia played Serbia and that match lasted for five sets. If I remember well, most of the players on the roster of the Estonian national team were from Selver TALLINN and this further confirms the quality of our opponent,” said Aleksandar Blagojević (pictured), the opposite of Crvena Zvezda.
Back in 2011 Blagojević played in the Champions League with Radnički KRAGUJEVAC, so he already knows this is one of the most terrific experiences any Volleyball player can ask for.
“Events like this are the most important ones for every sportsman. Everybody is excited because of the opportunity we have to play in the Champions League. I do not think it is realistic to think we can win this competition or make it to the finals. I just want for the team to show its strength and talent and to position itself among the best teams in Europe. I hope it will be a nice experience for the players, our fans and Serbian Volleyball in general. Our priority is to make it to the group phase of this competition,” Blagojević added.
Crvena Zvezda have already seized one trophy this season – the Serbian Supercup. The goal of the team is to claim at least another two – the Serbian national league and national cup as they won both of these titles in the 2015-2016 season.
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