The Burn of Missing Out

Europe was the dream. The fight for a European qualifying spot was the target. But at FK Čukarički, looking back at the chaos of the Serbian SuperLiga, Vladimir Matijašević settles for survival in the play-off rather than the relegation dogfight. For the man who has been the alpha and omega of Badovo Brdo since 2014, missing out on Europe is a "wound that stings." And as always, he takes the bullet.

Matijašević isn't just a director; he's a rebel who defies the system, generating millions in transfer fees without state aid. But results matter. This season? The club fell short of its own ambitions. "It was turbulent," Matijašević admits. "I expected more, especially before December. We dropped points against Napredak and drew with bottom-feeders. When we entered the play-off, the gap was already too big. We gave chances to youth, like goalkeeper Čarapić, but the regret remains."

TSC's Shocking Plunge

The league's unpredictability was highlighted by the relegation of FK TSC, a club that recently played in European group stages. Matijašević points to a loss of identity since Žarko Lazetić left. "They lost players, missed with replacements, and cycled through coaches from Croatia, Holland, and elsewhere. I don't even remember them all. TSC deserves the SuperLiga, especially with infrastructure rivaling Zvezda, Partizan, and Vojvodina. I messaged Žemberi — they deserve to be back."

Coaches, Confessions & Jakšić

Change was rampant. Čukarički saw its own coach carousel, with Lešnjak departing as the eighth in recent years. "He came and said, 'We need to change.' In Serbia, coaches usually go silent after leaving. Not here. We hug, we fight, we talk. Dušan Kerkez left on good terms, admitting the mistake was mine first."

And then there is the saga of Filip Jakšić. Matijašević opens up about the "torture" of the transfer process and how Jakšić ended up at Čuka. It was a battle of wills, a strategic gamble, and a testament to Matijašević's unyielding vision. The season is done, the wounds are fresh, but the machine keeps turning. The next chapter? It's already being written.