'We believe we can surprise everyone'

This week, ACH Volley Ljubljana will play in the elite Champions League. In the second tournament in Kazan, they will again compete only against Berlin Recycling Volleys and Zenit from Kazan. As in December, the Polish team Jastrzebski Wegiel has again cancelled its participation due to COVID-19 infection.

The Dragons set off on their 24-hour journey on Saturday from Budapest, flying via Moscow to their final stop. "On Sunday we arrived in Kazan, the venue for the second tournament of our Champions League group. We also wanted to have a training session on Sunday, which was of course also agreed, but the organiser didn't give us a date in the hall, so we only had our first training session yesterday afternoon. And the afternoon session turned into an evening session because of the organiser's logistical problems,'' said Ljubljana coach Matija Pleško about the inconvenience of arriving in Russia.

More than two months after the first tournament in the German capital, the Slovenian champions analysed their performances in the Champions League. ''I think first of all we know at what level everything is going to be played. The first tournament was maybe a bit of a surprise because these are different heights, different strengths and although the Slovenian championship this year is of a very high quality, it is hard to compare it with what is waiting for us in the Champions League. In December, especially in the game against Berlin, I think we were a bit surprised when the German champions attacked a couple of balls over the block from a really nice height and then we played in a bit of a crunch, we didn't find the right answer. Against Kazan it was a much better story, we didn't get scared, we played our game and in the end we were very close to a point or even a win, so we have to build on this second game and I think anything is possible in Kazan,'' stressed captain Gregor Ropret.

The Slovenian champions know that Kazan is their last chance to prove themselves among the best European teams this year. We know that the tournament in Berlin was a tournament of missed opportunities, unfortunately we only brought home three points, which we got due to the cancellation of the Polish team. But we also know that there was a lot more at stake, and we want to make up for that here in Kazan. It will not be easy for us, the opponents are very reputable. Today we have our first game against Berlin, and their game is not the best for us. Their style is quite varied, they have two top setters who are very difficult to read, but we will give our best to secure the win,'' added the Dragons' strategist.

The resignation of Jastrzebski Wegiel will give the Ljubljana players another three points without a fight, but the Ljubljana game organiser would have preferred to see all the games played: ''There are only a few games in the Champions League group stage, only six, where you can play against the top teams in the world and every one that is cancelled is a minus for us players. But there are three points in the account, so there is still a real chance for second place. But absolutely, we go match by match, we know who the favourites are, and we believe in our quality and we believe we can surprise anyone.''

Kazan tournament schedule, live on Arena Sport TV:

Tuesday, 9 February 2021, 5 p.m.

ACH VOLLEY LJUBLJANA : BERLIN RECYCLING VOLLEYS

Thursday, 11.2.2021, at 17h

ZENIT KAZAN : ACH VOLLEY LJUBLJANA