Coach Kovačević and Lisica: We believe in ourselves, we'll start strong from the first minute
Match preview
Delight the home crowd at the Maksimir premiere in the new season, take a step closer to the Champions League, and try to achieve this entire "package" with some statistical details as well. This is the guiding thought of Dinamo's players and coaching staff ahead of the second leg of the Champions League 2nd qualifying round against Thun on Tuesday at Maksimir at 8 PM. The first match in Switzerland ended 1:1, and the Maksimir team also has some statistical "incentives" ahead of them: Dinamo is awaiting their "milestone" 100th victory at Maksimir in the history of European club competitions, while also expecting their first victory at Maksimir against opponents from Switzerland...
– You can feel the importance of this match, I can say we are positively excited. The result from the first match is good, a victory in Zagreb takes us to the next qualifying round. We're playing against a good opponent, we believe in ourselves. From the first minute, together with our supporters, we will start strong – emphasized Dinamo coach Mario Kovačević.
Once again, Luka Stojković will be absent due to suspension. What's the squad situation?
– Everyone is well, everyone who was in the squad for the first match is available now. Mounsef Bakrar has left. I can see from the lads that everyone can hardly wait for the match. We have one more training session ahead of us and then we'll decide who will start.
Thun has meanwhile won their league match away to Luzern 3:1.
– We knew we were playing against a good, quality team. Some people in the previews emphasized that Thun was in decline, but we knew they were good. You can see they have a winning mentality. They showed that in this league match as well. They have squad depth. However, the most important thing is that we must be even better than we were in the first match. We had prepared well for it too, but we didn't control some things properly. We were better for most of the match, we were missing that goal, but in the end we scored it.
What kind of Thun do you expect in the return leg, do you think they'll play more cautiously?
– I don't believe that. They focus mostly on themselves, that's what brought them to achieve excellent results in the last two years. They know how to defend, they run a lot, they have many players in the opponent's penalty area, they're dangerous in long ball play, unpleasant from set pieces... After all, now in the league they scored all three goals in that way. But everything is up to us, I believe we'll impose our style of play from the first minute. What will we work on most? Finishing. We must be much more precise.
Maksimir is almost sold out for this match.
– I'm pleased about that, it makes me happy how our supporters always support us. It's up to us to be right on the pitch and make our crowd even happier – added coach Kovačević.
Maksimir winger Mateo Lisica is also optimistic.
– I think we've prepared well, we're physically ready, I believe psychologically too, we'll be at our 100 percent. We believe in ourselves, and the coach believes in us, I hope we'll show that on the pitch. Now we've also gotten to know our opponent better, we didn't know exactly how they would play in the first match. They focus on long balls, they also win second balls, we'll have to work on that. If we solve that and increase the intensity, we'll be better, dominant and win.
Lisica overcame mononucleosis last season which slightly disrupted his rhythm. What condition is he in now?
– I'm back, I'm ready, focused on this match. I'm ready both psychologically and physically, that's the most important thing.
The first match in Switzerland was played on artificial turf.
– That's a big difference in surface, but that can't be an excuse for us. We are Dinamo and we play every match to win. It will be the same this time – emphasized Lisica.
