City a ‘headache’ for wary Red Star

RED STAR Belgrade manager Dusan Bajevic described meeting Cork City tonight as a potential “headache” and promised he is not underestimating the Eircom League champions.

The veteran coach guided Olympiacos to the quarter-finals of this competition in 1999 and was recently appointed to the helm of the Serbian champions.

“This is no ordinary game. I saw Cork City play in their last tie in Cyprus,” said Bajevic. “They are a very good team which surprised us, to be honest. They are good, with a lot of patience and their biggest problem in Nicosia was the temperature. They run a lot, they are disciplined and they have players who can cause problems. Overall though, their biggest asset is that they are a team.”

His side, led by then coach and former Italian international goalkeeper Walter Zenga, won the league and cup double domestically last season. “My team is very young but very talented. They do the best in our country and we want to go onto the next stage of this competition. This is no ordinary game,” the coach explained, through an interpreter.

The visiting coach warned of the danger of his gangly centre-forward, Nikola Zikic.

“He plays a very important role, he is a leader and brings rhythm to our game."