Prva Liga: the award for the insistence of Diego Bardanca

Insist, persist and never give up. It is the philosophy of life of Diego Bardanca (León, 1993), whose passion for football has led him not to kneel down even in the most difficult moments. “If you don't play in Madrid or Barcelona you take more sadness than happiness, but you always wake up the next day with the illusion of trying again. This will end sooner rather than later and I must squeeze every moment,” he explains from Slovenia before starting a one of the most exciting seasons of his career: after achieving promotion to First with ND Gorica, the Leon central hope to return the club to the place that, by history, corresponds to him: “You have to stay as high as possible and remove the ghosts of That last year is the first and last season of the club in Second “.

ND Gorica, based in the city of Nova Gorica, is one of the most successful clubs in Slovenia. He has three Prva Liga (First Division) titles and three Cups on his record, but in 2018 he lost his place in the elite after falling in the 'play-out' against Tabor Sezana. With the season already started, in February, he arrived at the Bardanca club, who ran into the pandemic that paused everything. The Prva Liga was resumed in June, not the 2. SNL (Second Division), which forced Gorica to play for promotion with 11 fewer games in the legs than the rival, Triglav. “They weren't at their best, but they were rolling,” recalls Bardanca, who started both games in a tie that was settled 6-1 in favor of ND Gorica (1-1 at home; 0-5 away): ” The first leg was even and we thought it would be difficult, but in the second leg we were very serious from the beginning. We played a great game and got promoted. It was, without a doubt, one of the best moments of my career. “

Nobody expected Gorica to be so superior, but Borivoje Lucic's team was solvent in front of goal and behind they had the veteran Diego Bardanca. “We were winning 0-3 and they were running to serve out of the band. I told them: 'Have a coffee and take out later' (laughs). When the ball is in play we will go to 'full'”, recalls the Spaniard, who confesses “a bore”: “I am like a radio that does not stop during the game. I apologize, but they really thank me. They say that I help them to be connected.” After the promotion, the club has made it a goal not to suffer. “We have a young team full of super interesting guys,” Bardanca discovers before recommending 17-year-old Tias Begic, who after scoring in the play-off was called up by the Slovenian under-19 team. “Elian Demirovic, who is on trial, and Nick Jermol also look good,” he completes.

“In Serbia I had a very bad time”

After several years of troubles, Diego Bardanca has found in Slovenia an oasis in which, finally, to enjoy football. In 2017 he fell to SJK in the final of the Finnish Cup, in 2018 he lost a final due to promotion to Second B in Ibiza and in 2019 he descended to Third with Polish Bytovia Bytow. None of those was, however, his worst experience in football: “In Serbia – in July 2019 he signed with FK Indija – I had a very bad time. When the coach doesn't even say good morning to you, you know you have nothing to do. I gave my level and I had the support of my teammates, but they never gave me a chance. “Now, with a backpack full of experiences, Diego Bardanca faces his debut in the Slovenian First Division with enthusiasm.” I needed a club in which to feel at ease. taste and enjoy the confidence of the coach. I'm enjoying it a lot, “says the Leonese. Pick and shovel.