Coach Kovačević: We dominated, we deserved much more

I can congratulate my players on this match, it's a shame we didn't win, I think we completely dominated in both the first and second half, and it was like that until their goal when the game got watered down with substitutions and interruptions, but we "sorted ourselves out" in the last ten minutes and managed to equalize, pointed out Dinamo's coach Mario Kovačević immediately after the draw, 1:1, against Hajduk in Maksimir.

– We had situations for a second goal, but we didn't score. We deserved much more, football is sometimes unfair... It is important to continue like this. I think the derby was interesting. The applause of our fans at the end says it all. They are satisfied, but I'm sorry we didn't make them happy with a victory.

How did you see the situations in which the referee disallowed Dinamo's goal, and in the second half first awarded and then withdrew the decision for a penalty kick for your team?

– I wouldn't comment on that, I don't want to... It was a slight tug, I don't know. I think through that domination we should have created even more chances. From the first day, I've been saying that we can do even better, we were missing that goal. The referee awards a goal for us and then withdraws the decision, awards a penalty kick for us and then withdraws the decision, and then more interruptions... Everything seemed to be going against us. But we showed character, the boys didn't give up. We always look at the positive things. We need to work on scoring earlier in such dominant situations. I believe we deserved to win, and I don't want to comment on the rest – emphasized coach Kovačević.

Youth Fran Topić is rising, he also participated in the action for the equalizing goal.

- I'm really happy for him, he's doing well and training hard, even though he was not in the second but in the third plan. It's not easy for us either, there are a lot of new players. Here, he is trying and working, he never caused any problems. I promised everyone that they would get a chance. He took advantage of it. Yes, he was involved in the goal, brought us energy. I appreciate all my players, and I want them to react like him when they get a chance.

How did young Noa Mikić perform on your "scanner"? He left the game due to injury.

- Yes, he left after a light contact with Ante Rebić when he got hit in the head... Well, Mikić played very well again. Ronaël Pierre-Gabriel came in for him, who is slowly returning to make us even stronger.

Reporters were interested in coach Kovačević's opinion on the claim of his colleague Gonzalo Garcia that the match was interrupted due to a flare from the southern stands with visiting fans.

- We were much better until then. We didn't need a break, maybe they did. I thought there would be more stoppage time. I would really like to see how much play there was in that stoppage time - added coach Kovačević.