Abilaliaj takes the "helm", promises changes at Partizani

2025-02-24 19:24:00, Sport CNA

Arbër Abilaliaj has taken over as Partizan manager, following the dismissal of coach Aleksandar Veselinovic.

Abilaliaj spoke to the media on the eve of the return match against Laçi in the quarterfinals of the Albanian Cup.

According to him, the team has suffered psychologically after the lack of victories, while stating that the players need time to adapt.

"First of all, I would like to thank coach Aleksandar Veselinovic for the work he has done so far at the club. For all his achievements during this 6-month period at our club.

We have a very important match ahead of us and the time is relatively short. We will definitely try to return a little more to some dynamics, or to some profiles that Partizan as a club has had these players and have shown before. I think that we will have 2-3 changes in the concept in tomorrow's match.

Psychologically, it is never good not to win, because victory creates conviction, gives you security, creates mechanisms that work well. Of course, this is not one of the best possible situations, but still I think and I am convinced that the entire environment we work in here and the players are a healthy team. Maybe it has suffered from the pressures and the changes that have been made, but I think that very soon I will find the way to victory because the team is, the quality is. I say once again that these guys, for the way they train and what they show on the training field, I think that all they need is to return to victory, to return the confidence because it is really a very good group.

To be honest, there are many factors to answer this question. I think the most important thing at the moment of building or rather we must be aware that we are building something new, a new mechanism, a different face since new players have also arrived. We must also adapt to the profiles and the way each profile wants to play. I have said before that it will take a transition period to create a profile if we are going to say the new Partizan. I am also very convinced that at the moment of consolidating and creating a profile that is adapted to the players we have in our composition, I think that the quality in the team is very high. The issue of scoring or conceding goals, both as statistics, have not been in our favor, knowing that until yesterday we were one of the teams that until yesterday we have conceded the fewest goals in the championship. I think that it is simply a moment of reflection for everyone, starting from us first to the players finally to focus on the things that we really know how to do well.

Of course, two days to implement something is not enough. But for me it is not enough, considering that with most of the players who will interpret the game tomorrow I have time here. They know me, I know them and I know what to expect. For this reason I say that it is not enough. If we want to return to victories, to good matches or to the way Partizani played before, I believe that it is enough days. More to cure the psychological aspect so that the players find themselves. The rest of the game will simply be to interpret knowing that I know them very well and they know me", declared Abilaliaj.