BODØ (Nettavisen): Red Star coach Vladan Milojevic was greatly impressed by Bodø/Glimt in Tuesday’s meeting at Aspmyra. After the 2-1 loss, he gave Kjetil Knutsen’s team a good dose of praise.
– You use a lot of energy playing on such an artificial grass pitch. Bodø/Glimt plays a fantastic game, and I have never seen a team play so phenomenally on such a pitch, the coach stated at the press conference.
In a week, the final showdown in Belgrade will take place in the battle for a Champions League ticket.
Reacted to NRK question
However, at the press conference after the match in Bodø, Milojevic was also asked questions he was not as interested in answering. A highly controversial flag was displayed in the away stand.
To NRK, professor emeritus in Slavic languages at the University of Oslo, Svein Mønnesland stated that it was a “clear controversial, political act.”
– I think it is completely unnecessary and misunderstood by those who do it. It will have no effect in Norway. Bodø is so far from the Balkans. I don’t understand why they are doing it?, he says to the channel.
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At the press conference, Red Star’s coach was also asked by NRK about the flag. Then the club’s media chief Tatjana Sajkovic quickly intervened to defuse the situation.
Together with the coach, she informed that they did not wish to comment on the matter.
They then quickly moved on to other questions during the press session.
The flag is controversial
The flag is controversial as it depicts Kosovo as an incorporated part of Serbia’s territory, as part of Serbia. Furthermore, it bears the inscription “No Surrender,” according to NRK.
The conflict between Serbia and Kosovo is heated and has flared up at various intervals since Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008. Serbian authorities have stated that they will never recognize Kosovo as an independent republic.
At the press conference, the Red Star coach was terse about the flag, but he used grand words about Bodø/Glimt and snapped at a Serbian journalist when he sought to find scapegoats in the Red Star team.
– You ask me who is to blame, is that so important? No one is to blame, it is my fault, I will never say anything about it. Don’t say something like that, he says, before continuing.
– Why do you use such words about someone being guilty? Should we hang him out to dry? Please, don’t do that. I am the one who makes the tactics, I am the one who substitutes players. It is not easy to play here, especially against such a good opponent.
Next Wednesday, it will be decided which of the two clubs qualifies for the Champions League.