PANTIC'S GAME PHILOSOPHY

The two-time champion of Azerbaijan, the owner of silver and bronze medals of the championship, a three-time winner of the cup of the country, the Baku club in recent years has wonno trophies. The capital'sclub celebrated its last championship in the season of 2008/09, which led to the search for a new head coach. Serbian expert Milinko Pantic became the new coach. In this matter the management of Baku acted on advice from colleagues in Madrid's Atletico.

Milinko Pantic began his football career in Yugoslavia at Unity, then moved to the capital-based Partizan, played for the Greek club Panionios. In four seasons at the club Pantich became the top scorerevery time. As a result, he moved to Madrid Atletico, which in the 1995/96 season won the "golden double" (league and cup of Spain). Forthis Madrid club Pantic played 139 games and scored 38 goals.

Upon completing his football career Pantic from 2003 led the youth teams of Atletico and from May 2011 the reserves of the Madrid club.

After signing the contract with Baku Pantic agreed to give an interview to R+.

- The Baku management opted for you among several candidates for the head coach position.

- I knew that the club had several candidates. But they selected me and this increases my responsibility. Overall, I am a responsible person and so I know what I am capable of. I am sure of my strength.

- Atletico Madrid suggested you as candidate. Baku has partnership relations with the club.

- After a meeting with Miguel Angel (Atletico's general manager), I could not say "no". This is a very large and interesting project with a friendly club. This project should evolve and I am here to help the common cause.

- You are very confident. But what if something goes wrong? Anything can happen in football…

- The club's president, Hafiz Mammadov, promised to create all conditions. We will see at the end of the season if I manage to live up expectations. I have no doubt about success; it is all up to my efforts. As a coach I will seek to expand and deepen relations between Baku and Atletico.

- Do you fear criticism by the mass media? My colleagues are used to blaming the club's failures on the head coach.

- I am already studying the capabilities and strength of the team. With this team we can achieve the set goals. Simply, everybody should be focused on their job. I too will try to be as focused as possible. But I will ask you not to criticize me now, and wait for May (end of Azerbaijan's football championship. - Author).Then appraise my work and criticize it. But do not put pressure on me now.

- Prior to your appointment to the club Afran Ismayilov, Yuriy Fomenko and Rasad Abdullayev were brought in. Are you happy with their form?

- I am not happy with the form of several players. I cannot understand those who always wish to be on the field. A footballer can either play on the field or sit on the bench. There is nothing problematic about this.

- Who do you mean?

- I will not name anybody. But first of all I have to inform the club management. Among footballers there are those who will leave the team. If a footballer cannot bear the training regimen and quits, this is not my problem. I do not intend to change my philosophy of the game over the opinion of some footballers.

- Usually a foreign coach takes at least one Azerbaijani specialist as an aide. But all your aides are foreigners. Why do not you wish to work with our coaches?

- I wish to take my first steps with my own coaching team. But I am not saying that Baku will not have an Azerbaijani coach under me. I came here not for one year. I wish to remain for long and achieve success. Any coach can come and watch our training sessions. They are open for journalists as well.

- The Azerbaijani national side's coach Berti Vogts always talks about the little volume of training in clubs. How many hours do you spend on training?

- At the time I used to have training session 10 times longer than those I have now. These footballers are professionals. Even for the vacation period they should receive a training programme to keep their form. Yet, there was no plan and so many returned from the vacation unprepared. But this is not a problem for me. In past days the team has worked like an engine. Footballers restored their physical form. As for the words of Vogts, there are never too few training sessions in my team. They train as much as they need to.

- Foreign coaches usually prefer to bring foreign players into the team. Whatwillyoudo?

- Baku has players from several national teams, as well as foreign footballers who do not play for their countries. But for me this has no significance. I would like for local footballers to show themselves. Because it will be them, who will play for the pride of Azerbaijan's national side.

- How much time is required to raise the level of Baku?

- Everybody wishes to develop and ready to fight to achieve their goals. I am a very positive person and I believe that we will be able to achieve our goals. We have to start from scratch and prepare an effective plan for work. In order to choose the best players I have to see them on the field.

- Can you say specifically when the team will achieve success? Or do you consider this season lost?

- This season is not lost yet, because the competition has just started. Baku will fight for high places this year. Give me time until May (of 2014 - Author), and you will see changes in the team yourself. I do not wish to praise myself, but if I was not confident in my strength I would not come to Azerbaijan.