Miracles Are Possible: We Haven't Witnessed a Hajduk Rhapsody Like This
Hajduk thrashed Žalgiris 5:2 away, ending a six-year winless streak in European competition, but coach Garcia warns of the club's difficult situation.
Hajduk thrashed Žalgiris 5:2 away, ending a six-year winless streak in European competition, but coach Garcia warns of the club's difficult situation.
Hajduk's footballers put on a goal fest in Vilnius, defeating Lithuanian side Žalgiris 5:2 in the first leg of the third qualifying round for the Conference League. The match, played on August 6, 2026, ended a nearly six-year drought without a European away win for the Whites.
The hero of the match was Michele Šego, who scored two goals, while Adrion Pajaziti, Dalisson, and Rokas Pukštas also found the back of the net. For the home side, Nikola Petković and former Hajduk player Marko Capan scored. Hajduk now has one foot in the playoff round and will look to confirm their progress in a week's time at Poljud.
Coach Gonzalo Garcia did not hide his satisfaction at the post-match press conference but remained cautious. "It's always tough when you lose at Hajduk; Hajduk hasn't won in Europe for six years. We had a very good first half, missed a penalty, it's never easy with us. We broke down some walls that were barriers for us," Garcia said.
However, the Argentine tactician is aware of the challenges ahead. "Our future is difficult; we're in a tough situation. I've been here a long time, but I'm focused day by day. When you have good spirit, you just have to plug your ears and push forward. If everything is good, we must push forward. If we lose, we have to deal with it," he added.
Garcia particularly highlighted four players who, in his words, shouldered the burden of the match. "Today, Silić, Pukštas, Hrgović, and Šego won the game for us; they are the future of the club," emphasized the Hajduk coach. Asked about Silić and the captain's armband, Garcia confirmed he is one of the candidates: "He's one of the guys in contention for the captain's armband; that's my decision."
Special praise was reserved for Rokas Pukštas, the Lithuanian midfielder who scored against his compatriots. "He hasn't played much, but he's a hard worker; sometimes you have to hold him back. He works on his left foot even though he's right-footed; sometimes I don't know if he's right- or left-footed. I think he's not at his peak yet, but he's having a very good season, he understands everything, and I think he'll continue to grow. As for his mentality, there are no issues there; he's an animal," Garcia described.
The Hajduk coach also commented on the incident where home fans threw cups at Pukštas after his goal. "It didn't surprise me; in Croatia, they throw other things too. I understand the people here; they want him to play for Lithuania; he's a young lad. I spoke with him; he'll stay with his family for a few hours here. He loves this country; we'll see what happens in the future," he concluded.
Garcia dismissed any excuses regarding the playing surface. "When I played, we played on artificial turf in the Netherlands. The team trained yesterday; they felt the pitch. It shouldn't unsettle us, and we shouldn't use it as an excuse. If you want to play fast football, you need a pitch where the ball moves quickly and doesn't bounce too much. The players are very happy; they're dancing and singing in the dressing room," he said.
Finally, Garcia commented on the impression Lithuania and its fans left on him. "When we landed, it was very nice; the people are good and relaxed. I didn't expect such good organization, such joy; the team is losing, and they're singing. That's the charm of football; I love that about football," said the Split club's coach.
