Interview
31/08/2011
Velickovic: "I want the team to win titles; we all do"
"The best news I've had in the last year and a half is knowing I will play in the number '4' position"
Cristina Trujillo / Translation by Michael J. O'Donnell
Nole Velickovic was forced to miss this year's Lithuania EuroBasket due to an injury on his leg. The player left the Serbian national team to rejoin Real Madrid and prepare for the preseason.
You spent one month with Serbia, but your injury won’t allow you to play the Lithuania EuroBasket. How do you feel?
I spent close to two months with my national team and, after several tests to see how my leg responded, we decided I should return to Real Madrid. It’s tough for me because I’ve been playing five years for my country. My leg prevents me from being there.
Your goal must be to work as hard as you can on recovering soon to be in top form with your team…
The most important thing to me right now is to recover as soon as possible. It would have been impossible to recover with the national team because of having to play one game each day. It’s obviously good that I’ve returned because I have a month in which to recover. It’s better for my injury that I’m here, but I wanted to play with Serbia and I can’t. It’s a sad time for me.
You must feel strange; badly because you can’t play in the EuroBasket, but well because you’ll start to play for Real Madrid as soon as possible…
I’m hurt because I can’t play for my country, but on the other hand it’s only natural I had to come back. I know it’s good for me because I have time enough to get ready for the season.
You will play in your natural number ‘4’ position this season according to Pablo Laso. You must be delighted…
It’s the best news I’ve had in the last year and a half. I once said I can’t play in the number ‘3’ position. I don’t feel comfortable there. It’s not natural to me. The coach’s statements make me feel comfortable.
What are your objectives this season?
I just want to be in optimum form again. I want to be consistent. I can’t change every year. Regarding the team, I wish we win titles. We all do.
What do you think of the new coach? Have you had a chance to talk to him about the new project?
We talked when he signed for Real Madrid and before I rejoined the team. He’s been telling me from the start that he wants me in that position, which makes me happy.
Many of your teammates are also happy that you’ll play as a number ‘4’. It means they have a lot of faith in you…
They know as well as I do that I’m a natural number ‘4’. But I don’t want to talk about positioning now. I just need to play and improve. That’s all I crave.
The team’s game under the iron will be the same as last season’s. You, Felipe, Mirotic, Tomic and Begic are still on the team. This is good because you all know each other perfectly…
It’s good for the team. It’s very different to play with someone you don’t know or don’t bond well with on the court. We’re the same bunch under the iron and we’ll have two or three new players in the perimeter. It’s good for all of us.
You and Carlos rejoined the team this week to start work in a preseason that will reach its climax in the Bilbao Spanish Super Cup. Is it strange to start work when there are just five of you?
I had never returned to a team before 20 September. Our objective is clear: the Spanish Super Cup. It’s strange to start work when there are just five of us, but we’ll train like mad.
This is an important year for you…
Everyone knows that because I didn’t play much last season. I’m ready come what may.
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