Coach Kovačević: I'm pleased that we showed true character with such a comeback
After the match
It wasn't easy to experience this, but that's football, I'm pleased that we showed true character with such a comeback, highlighted Dinamo's coach Mario Kovačević after the victory against Swiss side Thun 3-2 in extra time in a match where the Swiss team led 2-0 until the 74th minute.
– I wasn't happy or satisfied with the way we entered this match. You saw, the opponent entered our penalty area twice and scored twice, we made two fouls and immediately got two yellow cards... It wasn't easy, but I believed in us. I hoped we would reduce their lead by the end of the first half, we didn't succeed in that period, but we did later. We made some changes to the team, the second half was better. The red card turned the match around, after that we scored two goals to equalise, we wanted, of course, to finish the match before penalties and we succeeded.
Swiss journalists, along with congratulations on the victory, were interested in Dinamo's coach's opinion about the situation with the red card that visiting captain Marco Bürki received in the 67th minute.
– Thank you for the congratulations, and regarding that specific situation... I haven't commented on referee decisions, but I can say that on the screen it looked like a clear red card to me. He was the last defender, and our Lukas Kačavenda had the advantage. I repeat, I wouldn't comment on refereeing. I can say that I liked Thun's team. It wouldn't have been undeserved if Thun had gone through. But I still think we were really better by that one goal and that we deservedly went through.
To a journalist's remark that Dinamo didn't start the match well, that perhaps a "we'll do it easily" approach was felt, the Maksimir strategist replied:
– Maybe you're mistaken, maybe it was the opposite. Maybe, instead of a "we'll do it easily" approach, the lads were actually too tense. Look, we played against an opponent who is the Swiss league champion, and it's better than ours by all indicators. When our captain Josip Mišić lost the ball, they immediately punished it, they have such quality. But football is played for 90 minutes. Of course, we'll analyse everything. We're not satisfied with how we entered the match, but we're pleased that we managed to turn the result around.
Players who came off the bench participated in the comeback – Lukas Kačavenda and Fran Topić
– And not only them, Matteo Perez Vinlöf also reacted brilliantly. We were better in the second half, especially with their introduction. When they come on they show character. Topić was brilliant, Kačavenda imposed himself already in pre-season, I said he had improved and that I expect a lot from him. The red card was made on him, he scored the equalising goal, showed energy. And Arbër Hoxha also came off the bench and was also brilliant. Well, everyone who came on was brilliant.
The man of the moment was Moris Valincić, scorer of the winning goal. It was also his first goal in a Dinamo shirt.
– I must praise Moris, I'm happy for him, he had an injury, it was difficult for him to return, he struggled... We gave him a chance, he had good preparations. Now he's scored a beautiful goal, I congratulated him.
How do you see Dinamo at the very start of the season?
– We were missing Luka Stojković, Mounsef Bakrar, Dominik Livaković... They were among our best players. But, we will grow. And you know that throughout history these first qualifying rounds have often been difficult, even against weaker opponents. We know we must and can do better. And we will be better, for sure!
A victory earned this way can mean a lot for building confidence.
– That's right. It wasn't easy to turn around the result in such a match. We exhausted ourselves... Fatigue will pass, but character will remain. Certainly we will grow because of matches like this.
Dinamo will face the winner of the tie between KI Klaksvik from the Faroe Islands and Lithuanian side Kauno Žalgiris in the next qualifying round.
– Those are two evenly matched teams. Maybe I'd prefer Žalgiris to go through because they're managed by our coach – added coach Kovačević.
