Coach Kovačević: We won all four derbies this season, we have reasons for optimism

Repeating good performances from earlier in the season and with emphasized energy and enthusiasm, Dinamo's footballers will set out to hunt for victory in the derby. With such an approach, Dinamo's players will enter Saturday's clash at 4 pm in the 12th round of the SuperSport HNL, where they will host Rijeka's team and thus try to improve their impression after the defeat against Vukovar 1991 in Vinkovci. If they manage to secure points, it would mean that the Blues will also record their "round", 100th victory in all official matches against Rijeka in history. In the previous 188 matches in league and cup competitions, including the Super Cup, in the last 80 years, the Blues have won 99 times, 43 matches ended in a draw, while Rijeka emerged victorious on 46 occasions.

– Unfortunately, injuries have affected us in the duel against Vukovar, and we have been left without Moris Valinčić for at least six weeks, maybe even more. The situation with Luka Stojković and Miha Zajc is slightly better, we will see. It is hard to believe that they will be ready for the match against Rijeka, but they will be back in training next week. Kevin Theophile, Ronaël Pierre-Gabriel, Moreno Živković have been out of the squad for some time. We have added Nou Mikić from the juniors. Of course, we were not satisfied after the match in Vinkovci, it is up to us to work better, prepare seriously, and we want to turn the situation in our favor with the match against Rijeka. As for Rijeka itself, things didn't start perfectly with the new coach, but now they have connected good results, especially highlighted by their recent victory against Osijek when they scored four goals. Maybe they are in better shape than us, but derbies are always special and current form does not necessarily have to decide. We respect them, we see that everything still revolves around Toni Fruk there, he is their most important player. But there are also other quality individuals. They are in good form, but we will want to make up for the defeat against Vukovar from the first minute and give our all to celebrate with our fans - emphasized coach Kovačević.

How do you deal with criticism after the match in Vinkovci?

- I am in Dinamo, it is normal that I cannot be satisfied after a defeat against a team that is currently last in the standings. I am not happy about it either. I do not follow the media, I only think about how to better prepare the team for the match against Rijeka. I am not burdened with anything, I think positively, I know that it is impossible to always win in life. And it happens that sometimes on a certain path one falls. Many times in my life I have risen, I believe that after this both my team and I will come out even stronger and better.

This is probably somewhat different type of pressure compared to what you have encountered so far. Do you consult with close colleagues in such situations?

- I hear from them, they give me a lot of support. I work, I fight, it's not easy. I am glad that many coaches who led me in my playing career have contacted me and offer me support. I keep in touch with the older and more experienced ones. I thank them, but again it's all up to me.

Dinamo is in a fast pace of matches and a tight schedule.

- We have reasons for optimism. - First of all, if we look at the matches against the big four of Croatian football, we will see that this season we have won in all those derbies: both times against Osijek, once against Rijeka at Rujevica and against Hajduk in Split. This gives me hope for optimism. I believe in my players. I won't repeat that we are in the process of building. After all, I am wiser after every match.

What is the plan for Saturday's match, will Dinamo start aggressively or patiently?

- Dinamo must press the opponent's defense anywhere in Croatia, I believe it will be the same on Saturday. We have analyzed Rijeka well, they play specifically, with three players in the back line. They defend with five and attack with three. They play beautiful football, we will have to adapt in some situations. They play their way, we play ours and I believe we will win.

Will there be any changes in the formation, especially in light of Valinčić's injury?

- We will not change the formation, we will play with four at the back. We have solutions in our squad. As I said, we have also included young Mikić, we will see.

What is the condition of Ismaël Bennacer?

- He is in good condition. He trained normally on Thursday, there were some problems due to the bad pitch in Vinkovci, his knee swelled up, but he will be fine. We are counting on him in this match.

There have been many reports about the extremely difficult pitch in Vinkovci which resulted in injuries:

- You saw that the pitch is not good, but it's not about the match result or finding excuses, it's about the players' health. Two players got injured because of the pitch. When you see holes on the field... I believe that next year they won't allow playing on such pitches.

Rijeka is in good form, recently they also defeated Sparta in Prague.

- It took them some time to implement some ideas of their new coach. Now they play differently, with three at the back. Many teams play in that way. Fruk has complete freedom in the attacking part, we know the quality Duje Čop possesses... I would say they play with a 3-3-3-1 system, different from all the others in the league, we will have to adapt to that. They have quality, with Fruk and Čop there are also other quality players... Some ideas of their coach have now settled, but we will play our game and I believe we will be better.

When asked by a journalist about the condition of Ronael Pierre-Gabriel and why he has been injured for so long, coach Kovačević added:

- I see all sorts of headlines in the media... Pierre-Gabriel reported an injury from the first round, and just when he returned, problems with his calf reappeared. He had an MRI, and a rupture was seen. He should be fine in the second week. But here I also "learn" something from the newspapers that is not true.

Journalists were interested in whether there were any crisis meetings at the club after the defeat in Vinkovci.

- No. There was support. Of course, there were discussions and criticisms, we are here to talk, but there were no crisis meetings. We are on the way, in the process, we know that not everything will be ideal. After all, not everything is ideal in life anyway. It wasn't good in Vinkovci, we are aware of that, and now we have the opportunity to correct it. We played well in all the derbies, I believe we will turn everything positive again.

What is the status of Robert Mudražija?

- In the midfield, there is the greatest competition, he has been given opportunities, although not too many. I am the one who decides who to put in the team. If we look at the midfield in the match against Vukovar, we cannot say that I put juniors and "underestimated" Mudražija. He is there, working, and when he gets the opportunity, I believe he will take advantage of it. By winter, he will be very good for us.

In the next few days, Dinamo has two important matches - a league match against Rijeka and a duel against Celta in Maksimir in the Europa League-

- Yes, but we are not thinking about Celta. The first and foremost is the one against Rijeka, we know how difficult a match awaits us, I hope for good support from all our fans. Just to beat Rijeka and then we will talk about Celta - concluded coach Kovačević.