“I was also surprised by Gigi Becali's opinions” » From Belgrade, Novak Martinovic introduces Red Star

On the occasion of the Europa League match between Red Star and FCSB, Gazeta Sporturilor visited Novak Martinovic in Belgrade. The former stopper reveals what he does now and previews the match that will be played at “Marakana” in Belgrade on Thursday from 22:00.

– Hello, Novak, and I'm glad I found you! I'm going to ask you directly, a prediction for Thursday night's game?
– Hello and welcome! As I said before, my opinion is that Red Star Belgrade has a very good team, they bought some quality players. On paper he has a better team than FCSB, but that doesn't mean anything. That's why football is beautiful, we don't know what will happen on Thursday night. If Steaua will play a very good match, and Red Steaua Belgrade a little weaker, anything is possible. But Red Star Belgrade is the favorite.

– Will there be many people at the stadium?
– I hope so! I don't think the stadium will be full, but I hope people will come with the team.

VIDEO. GSP interview with Novak Martinovic in Belgrade, before Red Star – FCSB: “Whatever happens is good for me. If FCSB wins, I won't be upset”

– You said that with Lyon and Celtic there were only 20,000 out of 50,000, how many could come.
– There were almost 20,000. In the last period, Red Star Belgrade is not playing so well and did not present itself as the fans wanted. Now it's a European match, it's completely different. This is an opportunity for Red Star Belgrade to win and move up the table.

– Is there a suffocating pressure in the stadium?
– There is pressure, especially now that they have lost in their last league game. Red Star Belgrade has the obligation to play well and win the match against FCSB.

– Who are you going to date?
– There are two clubs I love and the only ones I care about. Whatever happens is good for me. If FCSB wins, I won't be upset. I wish the best for both teams.

3trophies collected by Martinovic: the championship and the Romanian Cup with the red-blues from Bucharest and the championship with the red-whites from Belgrade

– Do you think you will be emotional?
– Yes, but practically 10-15 years have passed since I played there. I also have pleasant memories from Bucharest and Belgrade. I wish a nice and very good match for the fans.

Novak Martinovic, in Gigi Becali's team shirt

– How is FCSB seen here in Belgrade?
– Honestly, FCSB is not in a good position either. But there is great respect, very good thoughts for the team, for all the teams in Romania.

– Have you ever watched the FCSB matches?
– I saw some games, the results were not very good. They have quality players, they can make the difference at any second. That can also happen on Thursday.

– How do you perceive Gigi Becali?
– Now I don't know what is happening in Bucharest, but when I was there everything was correct, both from my side and from his side. I too was caught up in Gigi Becali's views, but that's the thing. That's the obligation when you play at Steaua, you have to focus on the game. It's the manager's opinion, he may be right or wrong, but the players have to know that this is Steaua and that's the way it is there.

250,000of euros paid Gigi Becali in 2010 to bring Martinovic from Pandurii Tg. Jiu

– When you played there, you had a different emblem on your chest, and the team had a different name. Is that weird? How do you see this difference between FCSB and Steaua?
– When I speak I don't know whether to say FCSB or Steaua. It's totally weird for me and I think for a lot of people. Especially here in Serbia, I was asked what happened there. I thought it would be resolved quickly, but it is clear that it has some problems and I hope it will be resolved and possibly become one team.

– Who would you consider as a rival? Partizan Belgrade or Dinamo Bucharest?
– Here in Serbia the rivalry is greater. Here are the only two teams to have taken the title in the last 30 years. In Romania you have very good supporters in Craiova and Cluj, you have two teams from Cluj with good supporters. We only have these two teams, half of the country is with Red Star Belgrade, and the other with Partizan.

– Currently, what do you do with your time apart from dedicating your life to family, business?
– I am dealing with two restaurants that I have opened, the third one is coming. With football I tried, I was a second coach in the first league for the smaller teams. I've tried, I've been, that's my love, but right now I don't see a future in Serbian football. After, you don't know, I have the license, I can go anywhere, anything is possible in life. Football is growing every day, I left the phenomenon for two years, and football has changed a lot.

– Isn't it more stressful to be a restaurant manager?
– At first I opened with the thoughts of a footballer. To open somewhere where I can drink coffee and have money. After a few months I saw that it is not like that, in reality it is something else. I have 75 people in two restaurants, it's a big obligation. Everything is different. When I played football it was the most beautiful time, I only thought about myself and giving 100% in every training and every match.

– Do you want to open one in Bucharest as well?
– Not now. Now I have a 12-year-old daughter and I'm not leaving Serbia for the next few years. After, it is possible.

– How do you see the difference between Belgrade and Bucharest?
– Belgrade has developed a lot in recent years. In Bucharest, unfortunately, I was only a few days, I didn't see much. The last time I went was last year. The difference is there, but when you love both cities, they are both beautiful. I have the desire to come to Bucharest more often.

– Where do you think life is more expensive?
– Now in Belgrade. I think it's in the top 10 cities in Europe for prices. For example, here in restaurants it is more expensive than in Bucharest. I don't know why, I'm not an economist, but that's how it happens in Serbia. We go higher, we'll see how far.

– What did you like most about Romanians?
– They are open, I haven't had any problem with anyone in the 5-6 years. There was no one to wish me harm. I had a good experience. And now if I see a Romanian somewhere abroad I have the desire to speak in Romanian.

– Is there something you didn't like about Romanians?
– I have nothing bad to say.

– What would be good for the Romanians to take from the Serbs?
– Madness! Madness, in a positive sense. It seems to me that we were more hungry, either we do something or we do nothing. I had no options, I had obligations. And in my case, I either play football or I do nothing. When you have a goal, you have an obligation, anything is possible.

– What does Romania represent for you, if you can use one word to describe it?
– Happiness, for me.

– How do Serbs view Romania?
– Very good. They helped us when we had problems, Serbs never forget the good things Romania did for Serbia.

– Do you have a favorite word in Romanian?
– I win!

– Which city did you like the most in Romania?
– Apart from Bucharest, Cluj. OK, Timisoara, Iasi is beautiful, Sibiu. Honestly, there are several that are very beautiful. Romania is a very beautiful country.

– Finally, please send a message to the Romanian supporters, you are still very appreciated here.
– Thanks for everything and I'm sure we'll see each other soon!