Coach Kovačević and McKenna: Against teams like Betis we have to be at our best

With as many as 11 points in the last five rounds of the Europa League, only two league defeats in three months, a strong resistance against Barcelona who ultimately won 5-3... Even a glance at the results and form diagram of the Spanish Betis, Dinamo's next opponent on the European scene, is a clear call for caution. The Blues will host Betis on Thursday at 18:45 in the 6th round of the Europa League, which will also be the last European match of this calendar year. The remaining two matches in the group stage will be played in January when the Blues will host the Romanian FCSB, formerly known as Steaua, and then visit the Danish Midtjylland.

- In front of us, in my opinion, is the toughest test in the group, Betis has quality above all other teams. We are aware of that, we can and want to do better than what we have shown in the last few matches on the European scene even though we know it won't be easy. I think we are playing better in the league, it's a shame that our good performance against Hajduk was not rewarded with a victory, but that kind of play is the path we can follow against Betis - emphasized Dinamo's coach Mario Kovačević.

What squad are you welcoming the match with?

- Cardoso Varela and Moreno Živković are recovering and will be ready, but we have problems with Mounsef Bakrara who got hit in the last match. Arbër Hoxha is also in question as he is feeling tired. The others are ready, we are waiting for the match. Against teams like Betis, we need to be at our maximum energy level.

Journalists were interested in whether the long summer break was a kind of "double-edged sword" considering that Dinamo did not have time to slowly "get into the game" in the qualifiers.

- Everything has its advantages and disadvantages. When there are so many new players, it was not easy to put everything together right away. The start was very good, then there was a small crisis, but we are rising again. We rotate players, we will see who is in the best energy condition and they will start the match.

How similar or perhaps different of a match can we expect compared to the recent match at Maksimir against Celta, which won 3-0?

- I believe we have learned something from that match, we will see. We know what Spanish teams are like, we have to be stronger from the very beginning, Betis has even better individuals than Celta, we have to be cautious. We are playing at home, we have to be brave, and when you are like that, things come back to you. The start against Celta directed and decided the match. We have to be better if we want to achieve something.

Dinamo is the team with the fewest fouls committed in the Europa League competition among all 36 teams in these five rounds.

- We are aware that we have to be much more aggressive, I am not satisfied with that, we are working on it. As for the Croatian league, we have increased aggressiveness both in defense and in attack. But we definitely have to be better.

In the last moment, Dinamo managed to register young Fran Topić with UEFA, who will thus still be eligible for this match. Topić brought liveliness to Dinamo's right wing.

- That right side was our stronger side at the beginning of the season, but now Mateo Lisica and Moris Valinčić are out of action, and we also have a situation with Bakra... It is important that Topić has the right to play, he is full of will and desire, and in these last games he has shown that we can seriously count on him for this match - concluded coach Kovačević.

The experienced Dinamo defender Scott McKenna thinks similarly.

- We expect a tough match, Betis is doing well in the Spanish league. We need to react better after the last two European matches, and there is no better place to show ourselves than at home in front of our fans.

In the last two months, Dinamo has slightly fallen out of that initial rhythm after a brilliant European start.

- Our focus must be on the next match, it is true that in the last two months we have not been at the expected level. It is clear that we need to improve, concentrate on delivering performances like in the last league match.

McKenna played in the Spanish league for Las Palmas last season. Although he did not play against Betis at that time, he certainly has a good insight into the opposing team.

- Yes, I missed both matches against Betis due to injury. It's hard to single out individuals, they are really strong as a team. If I had to pick someone, it would be Antony, he has been consistently good for over a year now. He came from Manchester United, he is an excellent player and we will have to pay special attention to him.

There are three matches left for Dinamo in the league part of the competition.

- We started with seven points in the first three rounds, and after that it was disappointing. But we have three more matches ahead of us and we need to start earning points. It's hard to say how many points we would need to advance. I think maybe 11 would be enough, so one win and a draw, we will do everything to qualify for the next round - concluded McKenna.