We can be satisfied, our main goal was to secure another victory, we succeeded in that and it makes us happy, highlighted Dinamo coach Mario Kovačević after his team defeated Kauno Žalgiris in the return leg as well, this time away with a 2:1 score, and secured a place in the Champions League play-off. Dinamo played with ten men from the 32nd minute after goalkeeper Ivan Filipović was sent off, and Ivan Nevistić then stepped between the posts while Mateo Lisica moved to the bench.

– We could divide the match into two parts, before the red card and after it. We scored two beautiful goals, but even before that we were making too many mistakes and allowing Žalgiris certain things. In football you can never relax, we got a red card, the hosts got their wings, we stood in a block... We didn't allow them much even after that, but we couldn't do much more either. We conceded that one goal, we spent ourselves a bit more than we wanted, but the main task was to win again, we succeeded in that and it makes us happy. In three days we have a league match against Rudeš and we must prepare.

The red card apparently changed Dinamo's game plan, and perhaps some of the coach's initial intentions regarding player rotation.

– We rotated, by the second half we had changed three players. Alright, if the course of events had been different, maybe I would have changed some other players. You see what football is like... Luka Stojković felt a problem with his adductor, Matteo Perez Vinlöf took a knock, so we reacted and substituted them so we wouldn't make the situation worse. I believe both will be fine by Tuesday. For Friday we'll have enough for the match against Rudeš.

Dinamo has therefore secured a place in the Champions League play-off where Norwegian side Viking awaits them. The first match is scheduled in Zagreb on Tuesday, August 18th, at 21:00.

– Our desire is to reach the Champions League, the opportunity is there, we've reached the play-off, we'll give our all. We'll scout Viking well, we've already watched them, followed them... I believe we'll be good already in the first match on our home ground.

Meanwhile, on Friday, there's a league match against Rudeš at Maksimir Stadium.

– We have depth in our squad, you saw that in the 1st round match against Slaven Belupo we changed almost the entire team compared to the one that played in Europe. We'll have a day or two to prepare and we're going for another victory – concluded coach Kovačević.