The weekend was stormy and Mile Škorić's farewell performance at the City Garden Stadium was like the calm before a summer storm. The next stop on his soccer journey will be landing in the green of the Cangzhou Lions of the Chinese Super League. On the occasion of his departure, he accepted an in-depth conversation with the Voice of Slavonia and confessed about his journey to the Chinese Super League: "China, a country full of unknowns and challenges, is waiting for me. I am passionate about this new challenge and I am ready to do my best to earn my place at my new club. I am ready for all difficulties and will give my best to prove myself."
[Passionate Dialogue]
Q: At home against Sibenik, you finished your last bout as an Osijek fighter...
A: I'm sorry that I couldn't collect the three points, the most important goal of the game was not achieved. I knew that this was my farewell game and I was eager to win three points for the team and add to the European qualification. Unfortunately, we couldn't achieve our goal and it was a very emotional farewell. I'll miss everything here, I've spent a lot of time here and look forward to another reunion in the future, not a parting.
Q: You were surprised by the "Mile Školjic" crowd in the stands when you faced Mijo Tsaktash's penalty kick (the home fans were expecting you to take the penalty), but the chance to take the penalty went to your teammate...
A: I thank the fans for their support and I hope to score for Šibenik and bring victory to the team. If I can do so, I will be immensely pleased. However, the team has a clear rule that the first player is Mijo Tsaktash. I deeply regret that. This time he missed the target. In fact, I took too many penalties in Osijek with poor results. I am not a so-called penalty taker.
Q: At Osijek, you witnessed the team relegated to the brink of bankruptcy. Which game left the biggest impression on you?
A: Of course, that was against the Croatian Volunteers in the last round of the 2013/14 season. At that time, we were fighting for relegation and our opponent scored the first goal. If that scoreline had held, we would have been relegated to the second division. Then Josip Barisic stepped up and equalized to keep us in the top flight. Had we been relegated at that time, no one knew where the club would have gone, whether Hungarian investors would have stepped in and where the club would have gone.
Q: Why did you choose to play in China?
A: It was not an easy decision for me to make. I thought deeply about it and finally decided to leave, even though the process was full of hardships. I will turn 32 this June, and this may be my last chance to change and feel new things.
