At a pre-match press conference held at LNK Sporta Parks earlier today, FC RFS head coach Viktors Morozs insists his side won’t take anything for granted as they head into Tuesday’s Champions League qualifier second leg against Estonia’s FCI Levadia, protecting a slim 1-0 lead from the first game.
“It’s a good result, but tomorrow we start as if it’s 0-0,” said Morozs, stressing the importance of avoiding complacency.
Morozs admitted RFS lacked consistency in Tallinn, praising a strong spell early in the second half but acknowledging the team later played more conservatively to defend the lead.
“The first 15 minutes of the second half were very good. After that, we played to protect the result. We weren’t fully satisfied, though the defence was solid”
Midfielder Stefan Panic, one of few players to feature in both the first leg and a rotated Latvian Cup lineup against Jelgava, is relishing the busy schedule.
“It’s always a pleasure. We want to play as many games as possible. The goal is to win and have at least six more European matches,” Panic said.
Despite the long 2023 season and a short offseason, Panic reported that he feels physically ready for the challenges ahead, reflecting the team’s broader determination to keep pushing forward.
“It’s been a lot of games since I came here three years ago, but this is what we all love. Competing with big and small clubs alike — it’s a joy for all of us,”
Morozs warned of Levadia’s pace in transition, noting RFS will need discipline to avoid giving their opponents space.
“Levadia are a very good team who know exactly what to do with and without the ball,” Morozs warned. “They have fast players in attack, and if we let them run, they’ll use that to their advantage. In Tallinn, we deliberately dropped a bit deeper to limit their counterattacks.”
He also expressed confidence in new arrivals like goalkeeper Marko Maric and Tayrell Wouter, though he acknowledged some still need time to adapt.
“We don’t sign players just to fill numbers. They have to prove they’re stronger than those already playing,” Morozs explained.
RFS host Levadia at LNK Sporta Parks in Riga at 20:00 tomorrow.
