The Montenegrin water polo team is traveling to the World Championships in Singapore, where for the first time after 12 years and Barcelona 2013, they will try to join the fight for medals.
The task is difficult, Montenegro is one of the youngest teams at the World Cup, but the rejuvenated team and new coach, a man who knows how to win medals – Dejan Savić, bring new energy.
“Sharks” captain Petar Tešanović, a goalkeeper from whom much is expected, spoke in an interview for Meridiansports about working with the new coach, the changes he brought and expectations at the World Cup.
The changes, he says, are definitely being felt…
“There are certainly changes in the way we work. Every coach has their own characteristic style and shapes the training sessions accordingly. The preparations in Makarska were basic, where we didn’t work much tactically, we concentrated more on ourselves, swimming, shooting. The emphasis was on the things we lack in the game,” said Petar Tešanović.
During preparations in Croatia, the “Sharks” took the opportunity to “sparm” with the home team, which will be our national team’s rival in Group D of the World Cup in Singapore.
There’s no need to waste words on the current world champions, Olympic and European vice-champions, but our national team has shown that it can match them in the pool.
“A few friendly matches with Croatia were good for us to see where we are currently. The Croatians are at the top of world water polo. This is confirmed by the European, world and Olympic medals from the last three competitions, but despite that, I think the players suit us in terms of water polo style. We don’t have much to hide from each other, we have similar systems and we know each other well. We have had several positive results with them recently.”
The changes are affecting the “sharks.” In addition to the coach, additional energy is provided by young water polo players who are slowly increasing their playing time in the senior team.
“When there is a change, this time it is the coach, there is also an additional injection of self-confidence. There will probably be a larger number of new guys. I expect four or five new faces for sure, so I assume that the youth will bring additional energy.”
The Montenegrin water polo team is working hard towards the goal of ending a five-year medal drought.
Tešanović believes that our team will manage to overcome the quarter-final barrier in Singapore.
Let us remind you that our representation at global championships has not passed this stage since 2013, when our only world medal was won in Barcelona.
“The team is young and in some ways inexperienced at that international level. It’s important that we go from match to match, not to get too carried away. I believe that we will have an easier path to reach the quarter-finals, than was the case in previous years where we had to struggle in the group stage and we are quite tired playing the matches in the knockout stage,” said the goalkeeper of the French Marseille, in an interview with Meridian Sport.
Reaching the knockout stage should not be a question.
The first-place team in the group will advance directly to the quarterfinals, while the second- and third-place teams will start the knockout phase from the round of 16.
“I think we can now somehow calculate, conserve our energy and do our best to overcome that quarter-final obstacle, which has been holding us back for the last four, five years.”
Balša Vučković and Strahinja Gojković are the youngest members of this selection, at just under 20 years old, their first major competition with the senior national team awaits them.
“These are two players with enormous potential, born in 2005 and 2006. They have their entire careers ahead of them, they are certainly at the very beginning, so there are many mistakes, which is an integral part. I think they are very young, they learn quickly and adapt quickly. I am sure that they will continue to progress a lot in the coming years and will definitely become one of the key players of this national team.”
Vladan Spaić and Petar Tešanović are both national team and club teammates. The strong center will not be able to help the “Sharks” because of this, which could be a handicap in Singapore.
“Spaka (Vladan Spaić’s nickname) has been in the national team for almost 10 years. He will definitely miss his experience and the reputation he gained in world water polo. The most important thing is that he repairs those injuries, so that they do not return and do not hinder his further club and national team career.”
The competition in goal this season is particularly intense.
Besides Petar Tešanović and Lazar Andrić, Darko Đurović was one of the most responsible for Jadran M:tel’s trophies and successes this season.
“I think in a way it’s good that there is competition. At the moment there are three of us who defend at a high level, where we can push each other even more at every training session. There are some malice or bad thoughts between us, we always encourage each other, and in the end it’s up to the coach to choose the two best. I think it’s a healthy competition.”
Petar Tešanović will be a member of Marseille next season.
With the first Champions League final, the historic season was completed with a double crown in France.
“A great, I can say historic season for Marseille. We managed to reach the Final Four of the Champions League, which no French team has managed to do, and we also won the double crown in France. I think the club’s leaders are satisfied, but I wouldn’t say they will stop there, we have already created a respectable team next season and I believe that we will be able to reach the Final Four again,” Petar Tešanović told Meridian Sport.
Of particular importance is his work with the legendary goalkeeper of the Montenegrin national team, now the coach of Marseille, Miloš Šćepanović.
“I also worked with him in the national team where he was an assistant coach, he worked especially with us, the goalkeepers. We have a great relationship, we know each other very well, we know how we breathe and it’s a real pleasure to work with him. I think he’s made a significant step forward in the last two, three seasons as a coach and is currently among the five or six best coaches in Europe.”

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