Kauno Žalgiris coach Željko Sopić, ahead of the clash with Dinamo in the third qualifying round of the Champions League, revealed his love for the club from Maksimir, but also promised maximum resistance.
Željko Sopić, the Croatian coach at the helm of Lithuanian champions Kauno Žalgiris, has achieved a historic feat by securing a place in the third qualifying round of the Champions League. After his team eliminated Kosovo's Drita and Klaksvík from the Faroe Islands, a showdown against Dinamo awaits-a club Sopić openly admits he has adored since birth.
The first leg will be played on August 4, 2026, in Zagreb at Maksimir, with the return leg on August 11, 2026. Sopić is aware of the challenge's magnitude but insists his team will give their all.
Before traveling to Zagreb, Sopić addressed the media in a press conference, as reported by 24sata, first thanking the fans. "First of all, I want to say not a big, but a huge thank you to the fans. I hear even the president of the country was here-a magical evening for all of us," he stated. He then touched on issues in Lithuanian football that, in his view, hinder the club's European journey.
"I am a football coach; I don't understand how it's possible that our federation closes the transfer window on July 15. This is the federation of all clubs, and we play the championship to qualify for Europe," Sopić said. He highlighted that Scandinavian countries like Norway, Denmark, Iceland, and Sweden keep their transfer window open during the summer, giving them an advantage. He added that it's impossible to properly prepare a player without at least 30 to 45 days of training, and his team lacks time because they play every three days.
When journalists mentioned Dinamo, Sopić didn't hide his emotions. "Honestly, I was born in Zagreb, the capital of Croatia. From day one, I have been a Dinamo fan, and I will die a Dinamo fan," said the coach, who has been a player, coach of the second team, and interim coach of the first team at Dinamo. He emphasized that for people from Zagreb, Dinamo is everything.
Yet, he is aware of the gap in quality and financial strength between the two clubs. "When we talk about budget and quality, it's normal that Dinamo has the advantage. But on the other hand, we will go there and give everything we have at this moment," he said.
Sopić also explained the challenges with reinforcements. Since the Lithuanian transfer window closed on July 15, 2026, the club can only bring in free agents. "You can't imagine the type of player I can get on loan. But... the transfer window is closed," he said. He added that even if he could bring in quality players, there's no time for preparation as they play matches every three days, and players who aren't in training need at least two to three weeks to get ready.
He particularly highlighted the example of Leon Kreković, a former Hajduk player who scored the winning goal in the return leg against Klaksvík. "I know Kreković gave his all today, but gentlemen, he's only been training for a week and a half," he said, adding: "Honestly, the players pulled off a miracle today. You'll understand in the future when you see how everything unfolded. I don't think I'm the smartest guy; I'm not important. We need to give Lithuanian coaches a better chance at success."
Sopić has faced Dinamo 11 times so far and is still without a win. He has a slightly better record against Mario Kovačević, with two wins, three draws, and two losses against his teams. He will have the chance for his first victory over Dinamo at Maksimir on August 4, 2026, where he promises a fight down to the last ounce of strength, despite the love he feels for the club from his hometown.
