The Macedonian football player was one of the heroes of Wednesday night's big point for Maribor in the Champions League (1:1). In the 50th minute the crowd at Maribor's Ljudski Vrt Stadium applauded Ibraimi's masterpiece as the Violets took a dream lead. "I looked up at the goal keeper and saw a little opening. When you score it's extraordinary, when you don't your opponent is happy. In any case I'll be able to look at it more soberly tomorrow morning, when I wake up."

After scoring Ibraimi ran to the Maribor bench and assistant coach Sašo Gajser. "I went to him because he told me before the match that I would score. My reply was that I would celebrate with him if that were to truly happen. So, I fulfilled what I promised."

Two weeks ago Maribor was defeated at Stamford Bridge with 6:0. This time Maribor achieved a great result against the leading team in the English Premier League. A result that echoes across Europe and beyond. Why the big difference in result? "The 6:0 result in London didn't give a true picture. We analyzed all our mistakes from the first match. Football always gives you as much as you invest in it. Today, we did everything we could. We worked extremely hard on the field, we were fully focused, and deservedly earned the hard-fought point. It will now give us additional energy for the Slovenian football championship, which is our priority. We have to show the same approach to matches in the Slovenian league as well. Domžale are ahead by 9 points. If we're not focused on every match, things won't turn out the way we want them to. It has been three years now that we have been proving to Europe that we are a good team. It is our heads that need to be put in order."

It is a pity the Slovenia's champions received the equalizing goal in the 73th minute, immediately after the Luka Zahović – Jean Philippe Mendy substitution. Chelsea had a corner kick and Maribor was not attentive enough. Nemanja Matić managed to get away from the French player and pushed the ball in the net after a header from John Terry. "In these kinds of situations players need to communicate. I feel sorry for the coach and the rest of the coaching staff, who keep stressing that we need to have all the opponent's players covered. And then it still happens that somebody is left uncovered. I don't understand why that happens to us. We need to analyze that and say who is responsible. That's the best way to do it, because there's no point in hiding things," said Ibraimi.

Viler: God exists
"Why me again?" Mitja Viler asked himself in the 84th minute after committing a foul on Eden Hazard in the penalty box. The Italian referee pointed to the penalty spot, making it possible for the Blues to score a second goal and go back home with all three points. However Jasmin Handanović saved the penalty. So what did Viler, Maribor's defender from the Primorska region, think of at that moment? "That God truly exists," shot out the jovial Viler, adding that: "Hazard is the most difficult player to cover. You saw how many fouls we made on him, but he just kept on rising. His ability to accelerate is extraordinary. He doesn't earn 300.000 euros per week for nothing. That says it all."

So how did Viler prepare for the match after finding out first-hand in London about the excellent qualities of his opponents? "We all tried to do the things that we used to do when we played well, like for example before our match with Celtic. Maybe it was superstitious. You sleep a little, you listen to some music. The day is incredibly long and you just can't way to get out on the field. And then you try give your best."

In three weeks in Lisbon
After four rounds the standings in Group G are interesting. Chelsea 8, Schalke 5, Sporting 4, Maribor 3 points. The team from the Štajerska region can still think about finishing third or even second. "We have to be humble and first start winning in the Slovenian championship. Whatever we achieve in Europe will be regarded as an additional success. Chelsea also isn't 100 percent through to the next round, so they still have to fight as well. It's all very much still open. Keeping Europe in mind will definitely ease our practice in the snow. We'll do everything to try and succeed. We have four more matches to play in our domestic league before the winter break, and we do have a favourable schedule. We have to grab what's on offer with both hands," finished Viler. In the Champions League Maribor has an away match in Lisbon on the 25th of November. Germany's Schalke comes to Maribor's Ljudski Vrt Stadium on the 10th of December.

M. R.; translated by K. J.
Photo: Sandi Fišer