Garcia Prepares Livaja's Return to the Starting XI for HNL Opener
Hajduk's captain is expected to make his first start of the season after coming off the bench in all four official matches so far.
Hajduk's captain is expected to make his first start of the season after coming off the bench in all four official matches so far.
Hajduk's coach Gonzalo Garcia is preparing a significant change for the first round of the new SuperSport HNL season. According to Dalmatinski portal, as reported by Sportklub, Tportal, and 24sata, captain Marko Livaja is expected to start the match against Varaždin on Sunday at 6:30 PM. It would be his first start of the season.
Livaja has come off the bench in all four official matches so far this season, with his last start coming in the 35th round of last season when the Whites drew 1-1 with Lokomotiva in Zagreb. Garcia then substituted him in the 65th minute, followed by a run of five competitive matches on the bench: against Vukovar 1991 without playing a minute, against Žilina at home for four minutes, away for six minutes, and against Pafos for 13 minutes in Split and 57 minutes in Cyprus.
The Uruguayan tactician dismissed speculation about a poor relationship with his captain. "Our relationship is good. People here think that if he plays, we're friends, and if he doesn't, we're not. I'm the coach, I make decisions. It's hard for Marko to keep up with the pace in matches like the one against Pafos. In the return leg, he played more than in the first match and was very good," Garcia told 24sata a day before the match.
The coach emphasized that there are no hidden motives behind his decisions. "I understand all the speculation about Marko, but I have my own thoughts. We need to use him wisely. If you think he's not playing because I'm angry with him, that's not the case. If Marešić doesn't play, it doesn't mean I'm angry with him. Marko works hard; sometimes he'll start, sometimes he won't," he added. Garcia also noted that he sees the captain happier than last season and that he is smart enough to understand the coach's decisions.
In addition to Livaja's return to the starting XI, Garcia is expected to make several other changes. According to 24sata, 19-year-old center-back Roko Gabrić will get a start instead of Dario Marešić, as will Niki Sigur. Michele Šego, who has been playing as a central striker, could move to the left wing, while Dario Melnjak and Dalisson are expected to drop to the bench. Possible Hajduk lineup: Silić - Acapandié, Gabrić, Van Hooreenbeck, Hrgović - Sigur, Pajaziti, Pukštas, Huram, Šego - Livaja.
On the other side, Varaždin presented a new player ahead of the match. Emmanuel Uchegbu, a 21-year-old Nigerian right winger, has joined on a one-year loan from American club Crown Legacy FC. He began his career in Nigeria playing for Ifeanyi Ubah and Plateau United, and gained European experience at Slovak club AS Trenčín. "I'm happy to have arrived in Varaždin. I like the conditions the club provides, and my teammates and the coaching staff have welcomed me well," Uchegbu told Sportklub.
Varaždin's coach Nikola Šafarić is aware of the challenge. "A tough and demanding match awaits us, like every one against Hajduk. They've played four quality matches at a high level, except for the last one which was a bit weaker, just like ours. The psychological moment will certainly be important," said Šafarić. His striker Ivan Mamut added that he hopes for a positive result but stressed that Varaždin will need to be at their maximum against a team that will again fight for the top of the league. Varaždin will be without the injured Elvir Duraković.
The match is on Sunday at 6:30 PM, and Hajduk already has the first leg of the Conference League third qualifying round against Lithuanian side Žalgiris on Thursday.
