Maribor are out to make their name, insists Suler
MARIBOR defender Marko Suler has insisted that the Slovenian champions are prepared for the biggest challenge in their history when they face Celtic in the first leg of the Champions League play-off tie on Wednesday.
Victory would bring with it a lucrative place in the group stage of Europe’s premier club tournament and, while Maribor have qualified before, in 2000, the competition had a different format and nothing like the multi-million-pound pay-off that exists now.
Slovenia’s most successful club, they are the only side from that country to make it through to this stage of the Champions League and the Europa League — and now they intend to raise their profile further on the Continent.
After sweeping aside rivals ND Gorica 4-1 in the nation’s Super Cup on Wednesday, Maribor could hardly be in better shape for this test.
‘This will be an amazing night,’ said 31-year-old centreback Suler. ‘We stand just 180 minutes away from taking Maribor to a place we could only dream of before but we are here on totally on merit.
‘The players have a big task to overcome Celtic and we have had reports of their games, so the preparations are already underway. I feel that the players have real hunger for this and there is desire to improve the standing of Slovenian football.
‘At home the name of Maribor goes with winning trophies but, so far, the club has not been able to make an impact on the wider game.’
Maribor collected the Prva Liga title by eight points last season and have made the expected solid start to this campaign, suggesting that under coach Ante Simundza, they boast a progressive profile.
With a new and exciting blend of Suler and a handful of seasoned professionals, Simundza has brought through several bright young stars like Damjan Bohar, Sven Dodlek and Amir Dervisevic.
‘The balance of the team is starting to take a better shape under the coach as the club has relied on an older line-up in the past,’ added Suler, who has been capped 40 times.
‘As a former Legia Warsaw player, I’d have loved to have played against my former club and everyone has been waiting to see what the outcome of the dispute with Celtic would be.
‘Looking at both clubs, it is a surprise the overall score should favour Legia so much and that gives us encouragement.’