Coach Kovačević: We are ready and will give our maximum to celebrate with our fans

Dinamo once again surged to the top of the league table at the beginning of the week, with the Blues defeating Gorica away 2-0 on Monday, taking the top spot and welcoming new challenges in such an encouraging mood. Already on Saturday at 3 PM, Zagreb will host their closest rival, Hajduk, in the 16th round of the SuperSport HNL.

– The players gave their all in Velika Gorica at this moment, it was important to win because now we are entering the end of the season from the position we wanted to be in. The biggest Croatian derby awaits us, we are ready, we respect Hajduk, but we believe in our quality and we will give our all for the victory – emphasized Dinamo's coach Mario Kovačević in the prelude to the derby.

What did the internal analysis of the Velika Gorica match show?

- There are many things we are satisfied with, but I say, the most important thing is that we won, the players gain even more confidence that way. I know they can do even better, we are aware that there were some things in that match that we need to improve. I believe that we will be even better on Saturday.

You often emphasize that your desire is to score goals through quality play. How close are you to the desired vision of the game?

- The matches against Varaždin, especially the first half in Velika Gorica, can be a guideline for us, that's what we want. We are aware that we are not yet at our maximum. We are working, searching, and in this match on Saturday, we must be at our 100 percent if we want to win.

Hajduk has earned one point in the previous two rounds, the guests could therefore have additional motivation to improve their impression and show themselves in the best light against the main rival.

– Both us and Hajduk have separated at the top of the table, we were in the lead for a long time, they later surpassed us, played four, five very good matches, now we are at the top... They lost against Rijeka and drew against Varaždin, but those are all good teams. The derby is ahead of us, but that match is not decisive. There are still many matches ahead of us, it is important to play well and show that we are better as it was in the first part of the season when we won in Split.

Can that Split match in which you won 2-0 be a guideline for Saturday's match regardless of the fact that both teams will (un)fortunately play in different line-ups than back then? 

- Every match is a story of its own, and this one is no different. We cannot dwell on what happened in Split, we are playing now in front of our own fans which is very important. There are no favorites in derbies, but I still think we have a slight advantage because we are playing in front of our supporters.

Luka Stojković is out of the squad due to a red card, and neither injured Moris Valinčić nor Mateo Lisica, who has mononucleosis, are available. It is precisely that right side with Valinčić on the wing and Lisica on the flank that carried a huge burden in the first part of the season.

- Yes, our right side has played an important role for us, they have brought us a lot of good things. Valinčić has been injured for a long time, now we have also lost Lisica for a longer period. In the match, the injured Robert Mudražija and Cardoso Varela, who has a high temperature, will not be able to compete. Everyone else is ready, working well, and we enter Saturday's match with high expectations on the wings of additional self-confidence gained from the victory in Velika Gorica.

In the previous derby in Split, it was precisely on that right side of Dinamo that Mounsef Bakrar shone by scoring a spectacular goal for the final 2:0. There are many open options in the offensive part of the Blues.

- From the first day, I have been saying that with so many new players, the team practically forms itself. Of course, we follow who is in what form, we know that they are all good and quality players, we constantly say that. Here, Marko Soldo didn't get many chances and now he scored a goal. We constantly repeat to the players to be persistent and work, they will have enough matches to show themselves, and we definitely have the quality.

How satisfied are you with the recent reactions of young players from the "second plan" - Marko Soldo was the scorer, Fran Topić the assistant, and Noa Mikić is rising as the right-back...

- This is important for the team. If you want continuity of good games and results, a positive reaction from players who haven't had many opportunities so far is needed. When they get a chance, they need to show themselves. That makes us happy, I never doubted them, I knew they would confirm the opportunity they get.

Of course, we will also need an additional boost from the stands.

– I hope the stadium will be full, our fans push us towards new victories. I believe that on Saturday we will be at our best and give our all to celebrate with our fans in the end – concluded coach Kovačević.