Even in the Champions League, supposedly easier opponents are now on the schedule—but does that apply to Red Star Belgrade, who are still without a point? We spoke about this with Crvena zvezda fan Denis.
With the Red Stripe: Hello Denis, please introduce yourself briefly and tell us about your connection to Red Star Belgrade.
Denis: Hello, my name is Denis, I’m 39 years old, live in Frankfurt, and have been a Red Star Belgrade fan since the mid-90s. For a few years now, I’ve also been a member and season ticket holder.
How is Red Star Belgrade’s season going, both nationally and internationally? Are people satisfied?
Nationally, after 16 matchdays, we’re in 1st place with an eleven-point lead over Mladost Lučani and two games in hand. Internationally… well, we’re still without a point, unfortunately. Of course, the fans are dissatisfied, but when you look at our opponents so far, Monaco, Inter, and Barca are currently in 3rd, 5th, and 6th places. They’re not there by chance. We could’ve gotten more out of the Benfica game. To be fair, though, several key players are injured. Our first-choice goalkeeper Omri Glazer has been out for a while, Peter Olayinka is out for the rest of the season, Mirko Ivanić—our creative midfield linchpin—was sidelined for a long time, and Ognjen Mimović is just now returning from his injury against Benfica. Competing in the Champions League without a full-strength squad is always tough.
How do you assess your chances of advancing in the Champions League?
Well, it’s halftime, and we still have four games to play, but realistically, I don’t believe we’ll advance. We’d need three wins out of four games, and our opponents are VfB Stuttgart, AC Milan, PSV, and Young Boys Bern. If we want to stay in the race, we have to win both of our home games. A win against VfB is a must. I don’t expect points against Milan, but with the right approach, we can win away at Young Boys.
Since 2018, Red Star Belgrade has been the Serbian league’s serial champion. What’s the secret to your success?
We have an excellent youth academy, with two or three talents making it to the first team every year. In addition, experienced players bring routine and skill that make a difference. Naturally, we also have the biggest budget in Serbia, which allows us to buy higher-quality players. The competition mainly comes from Partizan, who’ve had financial problems for years, and that’s reflected in their squad quality.
Is there frustration about not having much international success despite being perennial champions?
In terms of squad strength, we’d be better suited to the Europa League, but the fans’ expectation is for Red Star to measure up against Europe’s best. Are we truly frustrated? Yes and no. On one hand, fans want to see a consistent improvement in the squad and better results on the European stage. This is the biggest criticism fans have of the club’s leadership. We spend a lot of money by Serbian standards, yet good results remain elusive. Fans want the club to be competitive internationally.
On the other hand, one should remember where we came from. The 2010s were really tough; we were on the verge of bankruptcy. There are some wild stories about those times…
Before the game, VfB Stuttgart warned its fans to be cautious in Belgrade, as it could be very dangerous for visiting supporters. How do you assess the situation?
I found VfB’s wording a bit unfortunate. In principle, Serbians are very hospitable, so I don’t think much will happen as long as you behave respectfully. Stuttgart fans shouldn’t come with the mindset of “taking over the city.” Caution is always advisable, but I think you can share a beer or two with some home fans in the bars. It’s worked out with other visiting fans in the past.
The ultra group “Delije” is famous for their loud support. Should we expect a cauldron-like atmosphere?
In European matches, things are a bit more subdued because UEFA has already threatened us with exclusion from international competition. It won’t be as intense as a derby against Partizan, but the atmosphere will still be incredible. The fans know how important the match against Stuttgart is, and there will be choreographies and 90 minutes of singing. The only issue could be the kickoff time, as many fans travel from all over Serbia and even from neighboring countries.
Silas, a current VfB player, is on loan to you. How would you evaluate his performance?
Looking at the stats, Silas has three goals and one assist in six games, including one goal in the Champions League against Barcelona. Among those three goals was one in the derby against Partizan. Sounds good at first glance, but Silas came to us with a €10 million price tag, which is astronomical for a player mainly competing in the Serbian league. Silas has occasional good moments, but sometimes he looks out of place in the team, and his body language isn’t always great. There’s definitely room for improvement.
How would you describe your style of play? What are your strengths and weaknesses?
On the international stage, Red Star plays more cautiously than in the Serbian league, where we press high and create chances with quick combination play. Internationally, that’s rarely successful. Silas’s goal against Barcelona showcases our style well.
Our biggest strengths are the stadium and the fans, who create a unique atmosphere and drive the team. Liverpool and Jürgen Klopp know what I’m talking about.
Weaknesses include our backup goalkeeper, Marko Ilić, who will likely be in goal. He doesn’t inspire confidence, makes the defense nervous, and hasn’t made any game-changing saves. Milan Rodić (left-back) is prone to errors and isn’t the quickest. Overall, Red Star seems too nervous in the opening minutes and often mentally checks out during stoppage time of the first half.
Which players should VfB watch out for? Who are the key players?
Andrija Maksimović is our biggest talent. At 17 years old, he plays fearlessly and is very creative.
VfB should particularly watch out for Silas 😂. I think and hope he’ll want to prove himself against Stuttgart. You already know about his speed.
Nasser Djiga is our best defender, strong in duels both on the ground and in the air.
Mirko Ivanić is returning from injury. Let’s see if he starts against Stuttgart. He’s an experienced player with great vision. He’s always a threat when he’s having a good day.
Your prediction and feelings about the game?
I’m, of course, hoping for a win. In this stadium, anything is possible! It remains to be seen which injured players will return. If we don’t start too nervously and play our style of football, I’m optimistic we’ll secure our first win. My prediction is 2–1.
Note: This interview was translated from German via ChatGPT
Picture: © Srdjan Stevanovic/Getty Images