Following the Europa League group stage draw with England, Slovenian skipper Kike attended a press conference to give an in-depth analysis and commentary on the match and his team's performance.
First, he talked about the match and the promotion. Keck said that he had not expected his team to advance, but the players showed through the game that they really deserved to advance. They played England, one of the favorites of the tournament, and managed to draw, which is definitely a testament to the strength of the team. He thanked all the fans for their support, saying that the team was a bit lucky, but more importantly the fans have been steadfast in their support.
Keck also mentioned the team's performance in the game. He said that he had been feeling positive all day and that the team had shown mental toughness tonight. They analyzed the England team but were passive in some parts of the game and that exposed some problems. However, he specifically mentioned that England had a great chance in the 90th minute, but the team's goalkeeper, Oblak, didn't take too much pressure and managed to defuse the crisis.
Speaking about the strength of the team, Keck emphasized that they played against a very strong England team, but the Slovenian players showed real strength. He understands that the English players play every three or four days, while many of the Slovenian players have not played in such high-pressure matches in such a short period of time, so he is very proud of the team's performance.
Speaking about the Slovenian fans, Keck said that the fans bring great energy to the team. All players received encouragement from the 12,000 to 15,000 fans in the first match, and it is the same today. He believes that this marks the beginning of a new and wonderful era for Slovenian soccer.
Regarding the team's attitude in the game, Keck mentioned that the team came under some pressure in the second half as England dominated and picked up the pace of the game. However, he believes that it would have been problematic to not be under pressure against England instead. He congratulated England for finishing first in the group, but also felt that Slovenia deserved equal congratulations.
Looking ahead, Keck said the team will enjoy what they have achieved now, but will be back in training from tomorrow to prepare for the next game. They have had a difficult group stage but have a quality squad and he is confident about the future.
Finally, speaking about where this achievement ranks in his career, Keck modestly stated that he has coached other teams and the Slovenian national team, gaining a lot of experience and learning from his failures. Therefore, he is particularly proud of this team because it is a special thing. He believes that this era of the Slovenian team has brought a lot of joy to all.
