The autumn part of the season has entered its second half, and Dinamo and Rijeka are only now awaiting their first meeting. The originally scheduled match at Rujevica was postponed due to both sides' European commitments, and the two teams will meet for the first time this season on Tuesday. The last match between Dinamo and Rijeka last spring, the Cup final in Osijek, was also played on a weekday, on a Wednesday, and this week's fixture is set for Tuesday at 6 pm in Zagreb in Round 11 of SuperSport HNL.

– The situation in the squad is good, we no longer have problems with the virus, nobody is injured and we are ready for the match – said Dinamo head coach Mario Kovačević.

Will there be changes in the starting line-up compared to previous matches?

– There will be changes. We are searching, we are watching... Just when we finally become satisfied with some things, everything somehow goes back to square one. We will make some changes. After all, there are a lot of matches and we rotate players. But there are some things I am not satisfied with.

The HNL is precisely the priority in all of the club's plans.

– Every match is our focus, and in each one we try to prepare as well as we can, but not everything is always ideal. The HNL is the most important competition for us, everyone knows that, but we do not neglect everything else either. My thoughts are always directed at the next match, and right now that is the one against Rijeka. I want the right reaction from my team, I want us to show that we can do better. And we have to do better.

Rijeka's away form is inconsistent.

– We have analyzed Rijeka, we have watched their last four or five matches. They play better on their home ground. They also have problems away from home. In any case, they are an experienced team with quality individuals and you can never relax, especially in derbies where there is no favorite. My colleague Matjaž Kek tries to impose his style, a solid block with counter-attacks. They do that much better at home than away. We will prepare well and trust in the desired reaction on the pitch.

Will Dani Rodriguez play in the starting XI?

– We still have one more training session, so we will see. I would rather not talk about names. He is close, he should most likely start from the beginning, but we will still see who we decide on.

Did you carry out a follow-up analysis of the defeat to Dutch side NEC Nijmegen?

– We did, but we knew all of it immediately after the match. I have been a coach for many years, and in that match there were many very good things, but unfortunately, many bad ones as well. When you concede four goals at home against anyone, even Real Madrid, you would not be satisfied. We are aware of the mistakes in defense, but it is not only about the primarily defensive players, they are not the only ones to blame for the goals, all of us have to play better. Sometimes things do not go the way you want, but we have to be persistent.

Is the problem a lack of solidity in midfield?

– All our players are good quality, some are a bit sturdier, some more lively... Against NEC, the midfield line had to be more solid. Had we been more solid there, we would have won.

What has the atmosphere in the squad been like in these last few days after that match?

– I saw that the players are finding it hard. They can barely wait to show that it was just one of those days. I believe we will be at our best for all 90 minutes, and that, above all, we will show strength. Our quality comes after that, and in that regard, we are not afraid of anyone in the HNL – added coach Kovačević.