Celje coach: Football gods turned their backs on us

Slovan Bratislava celebrated their advancement to the Champions League, while the Slovenian team Celje felt hard done by, believing their performance merited a victory. The atmosphere in Celje was electric leading up to the match, with 1,500 vocal supporters from Bratislava adding to the excitement.

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Football gods today were not with us, as we played much better than our opponent. We had many chances, but we didn't score. Great praise is deserved by our fans, who supported us throughout the whole game. I hope to see them here more often. I really wanted to get into the Champions League, we were better than Slovan in two games, although Slovan has a considerably larger budget, but our guys showed quality. There are still many games ahead of us, at home and abroad, we have to keep working.

Celje's coach, Vitor Campelos, lamented the outcome, stating, "The football gods were not with us today, as we played much better than our opponent. We had many chances, but we didn't score." He praised the home fans for their unwavering support and expressed his desire to reach the Champions League, acknowledging Slovan's larger budget but emphasizing his team's quality.

Player Matic Ivanšek echoed the coach's sentiments, saying, "We were better, but in the end, we also lacked a bit of luck. After that pass in the 90th minute, I saw the ball in the net. I saw us already in the Champions League. But unfortunately, luck turned its back on us." He added that despite the bitter aftertaste, he believes Celje will eventually recognize their qualification for the Europa League as a significant step forward.

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We were better, but in the end, we also lacked a bit of luck. After that pass in the 90th minute, I saw the ball in the net. I saw us already in the Champions League. But unfortunately, luck turned its back on us. That's why a bitter aftertaste remains, although I am convinced that in a week or a month we will realize that despite everything, we have taken a big step by qualifying for the Europa League.

Slovan's captain, Andraž Šporar, however, confirmed his team's readiness for the Champions League. "We confirmed that we have enough quality and a quality coach," he stated. "In extra time, we were better for 30 minutes and therefore deservedly won." He acknowledged Celje's strong performance and missed opportunities, particularly a crucial chance in the final minute of regular time. Šporar expressed his personal wish for a Champions League draw against Liverpool away.

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Already at the press conference before this match, I said that we are capable of the Champions League. Now we have confirmed that this is indeed the case and that we have enough quality and also a quality coach. In extra time, we were better for 30 minutes and therefore deservedly won. However, the players of Celje were really good, they created numerous opportunities, they had a 1000% chance in the last minute of regular time. If they had scored, they would have advanced, but they didn't score and at that moment I knew we would go further. Playing in the Champions League is something special, and in the draw of balls, I have only one wish: to play against Liverpool away!