As the Lithuanian champions prepare for their UEFA campaign, FK Žalgiris Vilnius held a press conference ahead of their upcoming European fixture. Present at the briefing were head coach Vladimir Cheburin and club director Vilma Venslovaitienė, who addressed both the club’s European legacy and the challenges faced this season.
Žalgiris will kick off their UEFA Champions League qualification campaign on July 9, hosting Hamrun Spartans from Malta at home. Despite domestic difficulties, the club remains determined to represent Lithuania on the European stage with pride.
A milestone year in Europe
Vilma Venslovaitienė opened the conference by highlighting the significance of this season for the club – it’s Žalgiris’ 30th appearance in European tournaments and their 14th consecutive one. She proudly noted that Žalgiris has contributed 56% of Lithuania’s total UEFA coefficient points.
However, this domestic season has not unfolded as planned for the club or its supporters. In Lithuania’s top division, Žalgiris currently sits in joint 6th and 7th place with FK Panevėžys, having only collected 22 points. League leaders FK Kauno Žalgiris are well ahead, with 40 points – nearly double.
Injuries Take a Heavy Toll
One of the biggest issues derailing the season has been a wave of serious injuries. “We have seven injured starting players and it’s only natural that this throws the team off balance,” said Venslovaitienė. “No one could have predicted this, and I wouldn’t wish it on anyone. But we’re not giving up. We know the causes and we’re working hard.”
She confirmed that the club is actively seeking reinforcements during the open transfer window. One new signing is already awaiting a visa, with two more players potentially on the way.
“These injuries didn’t come from training, they happened in matches,” she explained. “Three ACL tears and other serious issues… I don’t even want to go into detail because of privacy concerns.”
The nature of the injuries has prompted further concerns. “Nikola’s (Petkovic) boots got stuck on the artificial turf at Sportima, he tore his ACL. Adama (Fofana) was injured during a match against Banga, a direct blow to the knee, another ligament tear,” Venslovaitienė detailed. “Why are ligaments so weak? Even the medical staff is puzzled. Since COVID, they admit they no longer understand what’s happening with athletes’ health.”
Leaning on Homegrown Talent
Due to a limit on foreign players in Lithuania’s A Lyga, which requires at least three Lithuanian nationals on the field, FK Žalgiris has been turning to its academy players more than ever. Currently, only Giedrius Matulevičius and team captain Ovidijus Verbickas bring true Lithuanian experience to the first team.
“We negotiated with all the Lithuanian players we wanted to sign, but they chose different paths. Since we have our own academy, we want to follow that route,” Venslovaitienė explained.
Ambitions Remain High
Despite the difficult situation, Žalgiris’ ambitions remain unchanged. “The standings may look grim, but we’ve seen worse,” Venslovaitienė reminded, referencing 2017, when Žalgiris blew a 14-point lead and lost the title to Sūduva. “Nothing is over yet. We’re staying in the fight.”
A bright spot has been the return of Liviu Antal, last season’s top scorer in the league. After a six-month stint in Romania, he returned to Žalgiris and already made an impact, scoring two goals and providing an assist in a match against Panevėžys.
“You can only speak highly of Liviu,” said Venslovaitienė. “Let’s not forget, in 2019, he played with broken ribs, and later with a fractured leg. He’s a warrior.” She added that the club is considering extending his contract and that Antal is even contemplating settling in Lithuania.
Looking to the Future
Another returning player, Motiejus Burba, who rejoined Žalgiris earlier this season, will remain with the B team for now. “He’s a forward who had the most chances to score in the A Lyga but didn’t convert. We’re working on reducing pressure and helping him find confidence,” said the director.
Venslovaitienė also expressed gratitude for head coach Vladimir Cheburin, who chose to remain with the club despite the mounting challenges. “He could have stepped away, especially with so many young players to manage. But he stayed. Poor results aren’t a matter of coaching ability. He’s the best coach in Lithuania, six-time champion. No one else has that.”
She emphasized that no coach can perform miracles without players. “This is an extraordinary situation, and it cannot be changed overnight. But Cheburin has accepted the challenge and is guiding us through.”
Source: https://www.sportas.lt/naujiena/522991/nepaisant-sudetingo-sezono-starto-venslovaitiene-pasitiki-ceburinu-jis-geriausias-treneris-lietuvoje
