The Europa League heats up this Thursday evening. FC Porto faces Red Star Belgrade at 8 PM, marking the second round of the regular group stage. Red Star, fresh off a draw against Celtic, now prepares for another tough opponent. Their coach, Vladan Milojevic, a former defender, is now in his third season guiding the Belgrade squad.
Milojevic spoke about the upcoming challenge. He expects some lineup changes from Francesco Farioli, FC Porto’s coach, especially with a big match against Benfica looming. Milojevic offered high praise for his coaching counterpart. “FC Porto does not just play quickly,” he explained. “They play with real quality. Their squad has fully embraced Farioli’s approach. He is truly one of the best coaches from this younger generation.” Milojevic noted that Porto’s strong results boost their confidence to maintain their quick style of play. “Our job is to react,” he added. “It’s simple to talk about, but we will play our own way.”
The Red Star coach also touched on Porto’s deep roster. He doesn’t know Farioli’s exact plans. Still, Milojevic’s team analysis shows Porto can swap players in various roles. They can rest key figures without serious issues. “We understand this situation,” Milojevic stated. “The main thing is for us to focus on what we can do, not just on the other team. FC Porto’s starting eleven, no matter who plays, will be very capable.”
When asked about potential changes to his own Red Star lineup, Milojevic agreed that it’s a natural process. He mentioned that he isn’t a big fan of constant rotation right now. He prefers a core group of players. When he does make changes, he wants every player to have a deep understanding of their teammates. His goal is simple: for the team to perform better than in the previous game.
Milojevic wholeheartedly agreed that FC Porto is a serious contender for the trophy. “They are one of the best teams in this competition,” he affirmed. “They are in amazing form, with impressive results.” He anticipates a very difficult match. Porto is clearly fighting for the Europa League title, making Red Star’s task complicated. Milojevic acknowledged that his team has entered a series of very intense games. However, he emphasized that they are used to it and must be ready.
A key question revolved around the availability of Krunic, one of Red Star’s top players. Milojevic acknowledged the player’s importance. “These questions always need perspective,” he said. “Krunic is vital for official matches. We didn’t have much time to find a replacement.” They are still deciding if he will start or come in later. Milojevic highlighted that some players are returning from breaks or just finished international duty. The team has also faced a tough stretch of games. “We have to consider everything,” he concluded, promising that the team would give their absolute maximum effort.