"We entered the game very well and did the things we had been practicing in training over the previous seven days. I think we implemented everything we had prepared for a good part of the match. Maybe we lacked more concentration in the final moments, especially in the first half, when we could have scored two more goals," said Lončar.
He emphasized that the match against Bulgaria was demanding, especially due to the fact that the team included many players who had not played together often before.
"We knew it would be a tough game. There were a lot of new combinations in the team, but I think we played pretty well for the first match with this lineup. I wouldn't say excellent, but certainly very good."
One of the reasons for satisfaction is the fact that Montenegro did not concede a goal.
"It's always important to keep a clean sheet. Of course, it's not possible for that to happen in every game, but against Bulgaria we did our best not to allow our rival any serious chances. For most of the match, we allowed them almost nothing, and what they created in the final were not great chances," said Lončar.
Speaking about the period towards the end of the game, when the Montenegrin team withdrew more, Lončar believes that it was not a sign of fear.
"I don't think it's about fear. In the last ten minutes we pulled back a bit more than before, but sometimes you have to defend. You can't attack constantly. The important thing is that we stayed compact and managed to keep the lead until the end."
The next challenge for the "falcons" will be the Slovakia national team (Friday, 6:30 p.m.), which, according to the Montenegrin midfielder, is a better rival than Bulgaria.
"Slovakia is certainly a tough opponent, at least on paper. However, when you play for the national team, it's a special feeling. The most important thing is to be a real team and fight for each other. When that happens, the result is usually inevitable."
Lončar said that the coaching staff will analyze the opponent in detail in the coming days, but that the focus remains on Montenegro's game.
"We are looking primarily at ourselves and the coach's demands. We have quality in all positions, especially in attack, and I believe we can deliver an even better performance than against Bulgaria. We are going for the win and we want to keep our clean sheet once again."
He also commented on the trust shown in him by coach Mirko Vučinić.
"The coach has shown that he believes in me, but also in every player he has called up. He keeps telling us that we are here for a reason and that he believes in our qualities. It is up to us to repay him with good games, work in training and our attitude towards the national team jersey," concluded Lončar.
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