Gorica clearly "doesn't suit us", but the most important thing was to win, emphasized Dinamo's coach Mario Kovačević after the Blues defeated their opponents from Velika Gorica 1-0.

– Last season we lost here against Gorica in the first match, and the second one was tense even though we won 4-2. Now we scored in the first half, but despite that, I wasn't completely satisfied. We had chances, but we also allowed them something. At half-time we agreed that we had to do much better, but it was the opposite. Gorica sensed that we weren't at our best, the last 15, 20 minutes it was "hold on, don't concede", but our goalkeeper Dominik Kotarski saved us, we have to praise him. In the second half it was an uncontrolled match, but as I say, the most important thing is that we won.

There was no improvement even after the player substitutions.

– We'll discuss that in the dressing room. There are some mitigating circumstances, there were quite a few new players, some played for the first time... But you have to work the field to get another chance. We didn't change the rhythm, and the opponent sensed their chance and pushed with all their might.

Captain Josip Mišić was on the bench.

– We decided to rest Mišić for one match in this cycle. And we can see how difficult it is without him.

What condition is Iker Almena in?

– He's in quite good condition, he was training before joining us, he's healthy... He's done two training sessions with us, one of them a bit more intensive. On Wednesday we have a cup match against Bedem in Ivankov and there we'll give a chance to players who have played less so far.

Dion Drena Beljo once again decided the match.

– I'm happy for him, but the others have to do better, then he'll score even more goals.

Coach Slaven Bilić will announce the squad for the national team on Monday. Journalists were interested in how many Dinamo players coach Kovačević expects on the coach's list.

– This is coach Bilić's first squad in this mandate and we wouldn't want to put any pressure. Even before the World Cup some were among the candidates, there are Dion Drena Beljo, Luka Stojković, Josip Mišić... If they get called up, they'll certainly present themselves properly – added coach Kovačević.