Dusan Tadic interview

[Kokakole]

For your enjoyment, here are some of the snippets of the interview that Dusan Tadic gave to B92, a Serbian website, last week (I only just saw it).

 

 

(Commenting on the idea that not many Serbian players marry hard work and talent): “All of our players are very talented, but I think hard work is more important. Every player needs to realise that in today’s game you have to be in top condition and to be professional in every sense of the word. I know I possess great talent but that means nothing without professionalism and hard work.”

 

(On taking it step-by-step in his career): “That’s how I think. It’s important to have normal people surrounding you, who will speak their mind. I think one shouldn’t rush into things, but you should look for where you’ll feel at home, where you’ll have a chance to show your qualities and come to the fore. That’s how I think and for now all’s going well (laughs).”

 

(On the adjustment to the Premier League): “The coach is important but Pelle and I are both professionals. Some players never adjust to the PL because it’s physically very demanding and hard. Probably among the hardest in the world. You have to give your maximum in each training session, as well as in the games.”

 

“The tempo is much higher than in the Dutch league. It’s probably the highest tempo in Europe as far as physical strength is concerned. It’s the most demanding league, the players are very fast and strong, a lot of running. The key is to realise what you have to do and then things will go smoothly.”

 

(On Saints’ start): “Sure, everyone at club – me included – is surprised at the start we’ve made. No one expected this. New manager, new players, new team…I think it’s a plus that we’ve adjusted this quickly. Everything’s going well so far and we hope it stays that way. We have a lot of players, we bought some key players just before the close of the transfer window and I think the club management planned things well.”

 

(On Koeman): “He’s great in all senses of the word. He’s there to advise you when necessary, he encourages us to play good football. He wants us to always dominate on the pitch. He also suits me as a person. He can be strict, but he’s mostly relaxed. He has a balance, knows what’s needed when. He’s a ‘real’ coach and person. I think in the next few years he will definitely coach the biggest clubs in the world.”

 

(On his record): “I don’t follow fantasy football. I’m not bothered by goals or assists, I just play. The most important thing to me is to be a key part of the team. Sometimes it’s assists, sometimes it’s goals, other times it’s defensive duties. I just want to play as well as I can and do what I can for the team at a given time. I think every player should think like that. Don’t fret over numbers, it’s not good. Because then you’ll get tight.”

 

(On the Champions League): “It’s just the beginning of the season, it’ll be very difficult to reach [the CL]. A lot of good teams, all of the matches are important and demanding. Every game is literally like a final. You can’t guarantee easy points against anybody. You have to struggle to win in each game. We’ll see how the season goes. We are thinking exactly like that and that’s what the manager has drilled into us. We’re just thinking about the next game and that’s it.”

 

(On Matt LeTiss): “ Of course I’m aware of him. His photos are everywhere, everyone here says he was the greatest legend of the club. They’ve told me a lot about him. I’ve met him, he’s come to training a few times. I’ve seen his goals – they were all goal of the season types.”

 

(On the Academy): “They have a great academy, probably good youth coaches. We have great training ground. As far as the new kids, there are some really good ones, but it’s early to talk about that. You never know which ones will come good; sometimes it’s the ones you least expect to. But there are very promising players and the Academy’s great.”

 

(On the atmosphere in the team): “I’m on good terms with all of the players. We really have a great group of people and players in the team. All of the guys are great, we often go for a drink or for dinner.”

 

(On his idol): “It was Zinedine Zidane.”

[washsaint]

Thanks - sounds like a truly united dressing room and things continue to look good!

[doddisalegend]

Cool. Interesting that MLT turns up at the training ground sometimes

[SaintTex]

(On his record): “I don’t follow fantasy football. I’m not bothered by goals or assists, I just play. The most important thing to me is to be a key part of the team. Sometimes it’s assists, sometimes it’s goals, other times it’s defensive duties. I just want to play as well as I can and do what I can for the team at a given time. I think every player should think like that. Don’t fret over numbers, it’s not good. Because then you’ll get tight.”

this is my favorite part.

[ToreSF]

Comes through as a intelligent player and person. Interesting that the club promotes Le Tiss that much. Maybe to inspire players to be loyal.

[Wes Tender]

This guy's attitude is spot on. He seems to be the consumate professional. He responds to the questions openly, intelligently and fluently. He is almost certainly correct that Koeman will find himself managing one of the top European clubs (or Holland) in the future, but I also suspect that Dusan Tadic is also destined for the very top too.

[Cabrone]

Quality player, can see a lot of the big boys coming in for him at the end of the season.

 

I hope we can get European football next season otherwise it may be another rebuild with a big pile of cash.

[dronskisaint]

Thanks for posting that - interesting reading!

[Redslo]

This guy's attitude is spot on. He seems to be the consumate professional. He responds to the questions openly, intelligently and fluently. He is almost certainly correct that Koeman will find himself managing one of the top European clubs (or Holland) in the future, but I also suspect that Dusan Tadic is also destined for the very top too.

 

I know this is my American perspective coming through--because any NFL, NBA, NHL, or MLB team can, with proper management, win everything--but when I read something like this I always think "Why can't Southampton be the top European club he manages?"

[pap]

I know this is my American perspective coming through--because any NFL, NBA, NHL, or MLB team can, with proper management, win everything--but when I read something like this I always think "Why can't Southampton be the top European club he manages?"

Current wisdom over here is presently about wage bill; clubs with the highest wage bills are seen as most likely to succeed. Of course, you've got your clown clubs like Pompey or QPR that mess that up because they pay over the odds (or have no intention of paying at all), so although it's crude, it's usually an effective way of predicting likely achievement.

 

However, most of the media is fairly useless when it comes to assessing how well players or managers are going to do in any given setup if they're not playing for huge teams, hence clubs like us can get a leg up by out-scouting the opposition. We've proven to be very adept at that, both in youth and senior recruitment.

 

I know that we'll have the permanent naysayers thinking we'll never win the League or get top four or whatever, but I have to ask, if it isn't us, who else is better placed to start cementing a permanent berth at the top end of table? Spurs don't have the stability, Liverpool will be on another rebuilding job if the edifice keeps crumbling without Suarez to hold it all together. West Ham are doing well and are going to benefit from their eventual move to the free money stadium, but that's a way off and I reckon we're a better team.

 

So yep, current wisdom is crap - and would probably have denounced our current position as impossible had it been asked to give a view on Southampton hypothetically being second after twelve games. Our defenders are not the most expensive in the League, and Clyne excepted, I don't think anyone would say that any were the best in their position. Collectively, they're the best defence in all four divisions - which would back up your boundless American optimism.

 

Doesn't happen often, but shocks have happened recently in both France and Spain. Ok, Atletico are not a small club, but few figured them capable of breaking the duopoly until they did.

[Minsk]

Many thanks for posting this; a very interesting article. He really does come across very well and am extremely pleased that we signed him. In fact, during the summer the time I was most concerned about our future wasn't with the countless rumours of players leaving (and subsequent exodus) it was when a report came out saying Everton had pipped us to Dusan's signature.

[Redslo]

Current wisdom over here is presently about wage bill; clubs with the highest wage bills are seen as most likely to succeed. Of course, you've got your clown clubs like Pompey or QPR that mess that up because they pay over the odds (or have no intention of paying at all), so although it's crude, it's usually an effective way of predicting likely achievement.

 

However, most of the media is fairly useless when it comes to assessing how well players or managers are going to do in any given setup if they're not playing for huge teams, hence clubs like us can get a leg up by out-scouting the opposition. We've proven to be very adept at that, both in youth and senior recruitment.

 

I know that we'll have the permanent naysayers thinking we'll never win the League or get top four or whatever, but I have to ask, if it isn't us, who else is better placed to start cementing a permanent berth at the top end of table? Spurs don't have the stability, Liverpool will be on another rebuilding job if the edifice keeps crumbling without Suarez to hold it all together. West Ham are doing well and are going to benefit from their eventual move to the free money stadium, but that's a way off and I reckon we're a better team.

 

So yep, current wisdom is crap - and would probably have denounced our current position as impossible had it been asked to give a view on Southampton hypothetically being second after twelve games. Our defenders are not the most expensive in the League, and Clyne excepted, I don't think anyone would say that any were the best in their position. Collectively, they're the best defence in all four divisions - which would back up your boundless American optimism.

 

Doesn't happen often, but shocks have happened recently in both France and Spain. Ok, Atletico are not a small club, but few figured them capable of breaking the duopoly until they did.

 

The problem is that of the self-fulfilling prophecy. If players and managers think that Southampton cannot be a top European club, they will be right because they will all be keen to move up rather than stay here. I suppose that is why this season takes on special importance. If we can continue playing well and qualify for Europe we can retain players and progress. If we finish 8th again, some of our better players will want to leave and we will not be able to stop all of them from doing so. Plus, if Shaw, Lallana, Lambert, and Lovren continue to underperform, we may not be able to get as much money next summer as we did last for our want away players.

[saintmatt]

great stuff - thanks for posting