There Türkiye thus missing out on promotion to the higher league. The 3-1 scored by Montenegro and by a super-formed Krstovic (hat-trick for him) was decisive, thus allowing Wales to overtake them Ottomans and take their place. The technical commissioner, Vincenzo Montellahe was bitter and could not digest the conditions of the pitch on which the game was played (Gradski stadium, in Nikšić): “It was a match in which football was only played to a minimal extent. The pitch was really too bad to play on at these levels. When you play in these conditions, the game becomes something different. Our players fought until the end, but we are a more technical team and, not being as physical a team as them, we paid the price with the result”.
On the lack of promotion and the repercussionsthe Italian coach responded venomously to a journalist: “How do I see my future and that of the national team? I don’t consider your question a real question. I am happy and proud of our last year. I can say this about our journey. Today we weren’t able to show the technique we usually show, due to the conditions of the pitch. That’s why this result came out. In March we will play in the playoffs, our goal is to go up to League A, and we also have the goal of going at the World Cup path, there are players who will continue to grow, and the more they grow, the stronger we will be.”
While the loss of points in the last two games, remembering that the top of the table has slipped away: “The match against Wales was perhaps one of the best we have played so far. We had possession of the ball, we created chances, but we were unable to score. Perhaps it was our best match so far. Today, however, there was no ‘It was football on the pitch. The conditions of the pitch were exceptional, and they scored with every shot. We didn’t manage to score even in the moments of greatest pressure. Despite the chances we created, we didn’t manage to score from the municipality. I am more proud of my team today. They fought until the end, and obviously we’re disappointed, it wasn’t the result we wanted. We went onto the pitch with the intention of getting another result, but until March we will have players with ample room for growth, and the more they grow, the stronger we will be.”
On possible opponents in League A of the playoffs (Hungary, Serbia, Belgium and Scotland): “The opponent is not important, after a defeat we just have to avoid losing our enthusiasm, our balance, our spirit and the love of our people. These are the most balanced important in football. It doesn’t matter who the opponent is, we will continue to play our football.”
In closing, Montella acknowledged the absence of Hakan Calhanoglucaptain and midfielder – also for Inter -, also underlining the difficulty of coaching a national team: “In football there are unexpected injuries and physical declines. Being the coach of the national team is difficult due to these events, you always try to I can say that our generation is destined to grow. We already have a group of excellent players, and before I arrived we had already risen to League B, so we have embarked on a special journey, we will continue to grow better. Sometimes, because We care a lot, we tend to rush too much, but we have to be careful and proceed patiently, step by step.”