Marko Perovic: 'I always look for the 1v1s'
The UD Almería’s teenage talent makes his mark with a stunning goal against Al-Jazzira Club and a fearless mindset
At just 19 years of age, Marko Perovic is already showing the maturity and flair of a seasoned professional. The young Montenegrin, born on 5 March, 2006, is climbing the ranks quickly at UD Almería, and his latest performance is proof that his footballing rise is no coincidence.
Perovic lit up the pitch in the recent friendly against Al-Jazzira Club with a goal that captured his confidence and technical skill. 'I saw that Selvi was going to pass it to me and I offered myself to receive it. What I didn’t expect was that Lázaro was going to give me that pass right away, so I went all the way and chipped the ball. It worked out perfectly,' he said with a smile that showed both pride and joy.
While many would have opted for a powerful strike towards the far post, Perovic took a more elegant route. 'Why not? When I thought about shooting, I saw the goalkeeper coming out, so I told myself hold on...and goal,' he explained.
Perovic is relishing the trust shown in him by head coach Rubi. The instructions are clear, and he is taking them to heart. 'He tells me to constantly look for one-on-one duels and that it’s vital to position myself well on the pitch, especially closing down to help the full-back,' the forward revealed.
But it is not just in attack where Perovic is showing promise. His commitment to the team’s defensive duties is also evident. 'We must defend all together and those up front...we must provide a lot of help to the defenders. We have to do it from the striker to the goalkeeper,' he added, impressively fluent in Spanish, another area where he is progressing quickly.
Perovic has also displayed his versatility in pre-season. In the first friendly, Rubi deployed him as a full-back, a position he is no stranger to. 'I’ve played there with the national team and I’ve also played some games as a winger with the ‘B’ team. It’s nothing new for me,' he said confidently.
The team chemistry is building fast. With a number of new faces in the squad, the team dynamic is quickly taking shape. 'The new players are adapting very quickly and the other day against Al-Jazzira, we already saw an improvement compared to the first friendly against Málaga CF. We obviously have to keep improving,' Perovic concluded.
For now, Marko Perovic is taking each step with purpose, always looking for the 1v1s, always looking forward.