We were good in the first half, but perhaps that deceived us a little. We had good situations later on too, but in the end poor finishing cost us, said Dinamo coach Mario Kovačević after Dutch side NEC Nijmegen won 4-2 at Maksimir in Matchday 3 of the UEFA Europa League.

– At half-time we felt we could do it. We encouraged each other after that first half and told ourselves we had to carry on in the same way. They changed their tactics a little and dropped deeper, and they scored the third goal from a quick transition. We had plenty of chances and opportunities to equalise, but unfortunately we didn't manage it. Finishing cost us. NEC put together a move in which we again defended poorly. They then went two goals ahead, and that is where the match was decided. I can't say the players didn't want it, but we have to be smarter. This defeat hurts, it's a tough one... It's good that we didn't completely fall apart in the end. The first half gave us hope that we could get a win. But they really had phenomenal finishing: three goals from three shots, and they hit the crossbar once. For us, nothing would go in. Everything somehow went their way.

You changed the defensive line compared with the recent win over Anderlecht. Why?

– We can talk now about whether this player or that one should have played, especially when you lose. Sergi Dominguez and Scott McKenna are our regular centre-backs, they won the league last season, and I trust them. Stjepan Radeljić played very well against Anderlecht, but even then the opposition had a lot of chances. I have nothing more to say; Radeljić is doing well too, and had I gone with him, I wouldn't have made a mistake. I trust Dominguez and McKenna as well, but if it doesn't go well, we will make changes.

After the first three matches in the Europa League, Dinamo have four points, and only now come the nominally tougher opponents.

– We have to believe. We all hoped to pick up two wins from our two home matches. It was hard against Anderlecht, but when you win, it's normal to feel better and more confident. But look, as soon as you make a mistake, the opponent punishes you. But why shouldn't we surprise Sunderland? The motivation will be high and we believe we can do it, but we have to improve a lot, especially in defence. We have to improve our finishing too. Only then can we hope to surprise someone somewhere.

Dinamo are not giving up on attacking football. Is the quality of the squad for such a style of play perhaps an open question?

– We will keep pushing our way of playing, but the finishing has to be better. Dion Drena Beljo scores goals, but in the spring we had players who joined him in that. And the results were immediately better.

What was the key to the way the match turned out?

– NEC saw that we were good in the first half, so they changed their approach in the second. They sat deeper, expended less energy, and focused on counter-attacks, while we defended poorly. But as I say, we will not give up on attacking football, that much is certain. Honestly, I'm most angry about the third goal we conceded. Only a few minutes of the second half had been played, and it's incredible that we reacted so badly. Even after that we asserted ourselves and had three or four chances, but if you don't score, a quality opponent punishes you on the counter. So, we conceded the second goal in the last minute of the first half and the third at the start of the second. That must not happen. It must not! – concluded coach Kovačević.