Ivan Cupic: Vardar travel to Nantes and want to send a message

Vardar travel to Nantes tonight for the fifth round of the EHF Champions League group stage; the match at H Arena kicks off at 20:45 and the Macedonian side are chasing their first win in the competition.

The teams have already met once this season in Skopje, a close contest that ended 33-32 in Nantes' favour (16-15). Vardar arrive in France after another dramatic European outing and a narrow 33-32 loss to Wisla Plock, while Nantes come into the fixture on the back of a convincing 33-25 victory over Melsungen.

Ivan Cupic sets the tone

"We want to win and remain competitive, as we have been so far. We know that it is very difficult to win in Nantes. I don't want us to think that just a good performance and a good impression will be enough. In Nantes we must fight, show the right guard and the right attitude, as we always have. That must never be missing. These are difficult moments. We had high expectations and hoped to get through the group stage. Still, we want to send a message for the future that we are alive and competitive and that this team is in a process of development. Every match in the Champions League for us is like a final. We must present ourselves properly and we want to learn from every match. We have Urosh, but we don't have Mo. He has a problem and didn't travel with us, so again we remain with only one right back. Urosh certainly deserves this chance. With the way he trains and works, and with everything he did last season, he deserves to play more and help us more. Now, when we are without Mo, he will get a real opportunity. We will also be without Keita, who has a viral illness and cannot travel with us. We're a bit thin in the roster, but Urosh returns, and Pedro can cover two positions. Mario is also back, so we are covered on the left wing. Urosh with his work last season helped us a lot to qualify for the Champions League. He will get a bigger chance and I believe he will continue on the path from last season. Mo at this moment had positioned himself as the first option, but every match is an opportunity to prove himself. Not only from Urosh, but from everyone I expect a combative and physical match from our side. I believe this will be our day," Cupic said.

With Mo absent due to a problem that prevented him from travelling and Keita sidelined by a viral illness, Vardar's squad is slimmer than usual; Urosh returns and is expected to receive increased minutes, while Pedro can cover multiple positions and Mario's comeback fills the left-wing vacancy.

Cupic underlined that despite recent results the team must keep fighting and use each Champions League fixture as a lesson and an opportunity to prove it remains competitive.

Photo: press material from the event