First Team

On Wednesday, August 19, a press conference was held in the press room of the Orogel Stadium-Dino Manuzzi to introduce Mihajlo Ilić, a defender for Cesena FC.

At his side was Massimo Agostini, a member of the Cavalluccio board of directors, who stated: “Today we’re happy to introduce Ilić, Cesena’s new player, who arrives on loan from Bologna. He’s young, but he already has significant international experience, having had a strong season last year at Anderlecht and coming from a prestigious youth academy like Partizan’s. He’s a player who, in my opinion, will be a huge help to us in the season ahead, and we extend our warmest welcome to him.”

Next, it was Mihajlo Ilić’s turn to answer questions from the journalists present, stating: “First and foremost, I’d like to thank everyone at Cesena FC — the ownership, the coach, and the coaching staff. My debut in Coppa Italia? It’s always difficult for a defender to come off the bench in the opening minutes, but as far as I’m concerned, I think that, as a team, we played our game, and against a Serie A opponent, we still put in a positive performance, even creating several scoring chances.”

“Last year was a great experience for me in Belgium, at one of the country’s top clubs, with lots of fans and a lot of pressure, and I think what I went through will help me throughout my career. I played many matches with Partizan, including in Europe, and I believe that experience will be a major asset in helping me improve as an individual and, consequently, help the team grow as well. Throughout my career, I’ve learned that the most important thing is always for teammates to help one another, so, for my part, I’ll always give my all for Cesena .”

“I consider myself a defender who likes to play with the ball at my feet, and that’s also why I’m a good fit with Cesena FC. I like the team’s style of play, and I think that’s one of my best qualities: knowing how to play with my feet while moving between the lines. I also believe I have strong leadership skills, even though there are certain areas where I can definitely improve as a defender, such as the physical strength needed to be more aggressive on the field.”

“Do I think I have the talent and hunger that set Serbian soccer players apart? Absolutely. All the Serbian players who’ve played in Italy have gone on to have a lot of success, and I think I can be one of them.”