Vardar 1961 strengthened as Uroš Mitrović returns for Nantes

Vardar 1961 travel to Nantes strengthened by the return of Uroš Mitrović for tonight's EHF Champions League clash, after the Serbian wing completed a four‑match ban. The match in the group stage kicks off at 20:45.

Mitrović: "The desire remained the same, it did not disappear"

Mitrović said he spent the last month and a half preparing for Champions League fixtures and had been waiting for the opportunity to help the team. "The desire remained the same, it did not disappear. All the time I prepared for these matches in the Champions League and waited for my chance. Finally, after a month and a half, my four‑match suspension has expired and now I can play and help the team."

He added that the lack of pressure on Vardar could be a mixed blessing, but stressed the squad will still fight until the end. "I don't know whether the fact that we don't have pressure can be a relieving circumstance, but in any case we will play to the end and give our maximum. Although we have no chance to get through the group and we will continue competing in the European League, where we played last season, there is no reason not to play with 100 percent of our abilities and not to look for the victory," Mitrović said.

The suspension stemmed from an incident last season in the EHF European League, when Mitrović was sanctioned for a foul on Valentin Porto in the match against Montpellier. After serving the four matches, he is available again for coach selection.

Vardar 1961 have already lost the possibility to advance from the group in the Champions League and will finish their European campaign in the EHF European League. Despite that, the team aims to chase a positive result in Nantes.

Photo: press material from the event