The president of the club Milan Mandarić said that in Vanoli he recognized a person with a lot of positive energy, and that during their talk which lasted three hours Vanoli already presented to him his plan for beating Maribor, their sole competitor for the champion title, at the derby in Stožice on May 7. Naturally, Vanoli's work will be considered successful only if Olympija on May 22, at the end of the First League, gets the title of National Champions for the first time after 1995.

Mandarić and Vanoli knew each other from Koper
"The president sked me to come, but it was also my wish to come to Olimpija. I am not here to collect the money. I believe in the project of the president, and of the city," Vanoli said at his introduction. He is familiar with the Slovenian football, as he has been twice at the Luka Koper bench (between the years 2012 and 2015). He is not worried because the time for preparing adequate strategy is so short: "Also last year Guberac called me three days before the semi-final match against Domžale, and we managed to secure the Slovenia Cup, and Supercup in five matches."

"It's the others who should be nervous "
There are six more rounds until the end of this championship. The leading team Olimpija has two-point advantage ahead of the second-placed Maribor. Vanoli's first task will be to calm the mood within the locker room, after the turbulent times. "The players must be relieved of the pressure, they have to enjoy playing football. It's the others who should be nervous."

On Monday Mandarić announced that the trainer Marko Nikolić is leaving due to the rasist remark directed to Olimpija attacker Blessing Eleke. On Wednesday he also confirmed the departure of the Sport Manager Ranko Stojić, and the never-to-be attacker of the Ljubljana football team Danko Lazović.

T. O.