Hajduk Defender Didn't Travel to Vilnius
Marin Skelin, the 19-year-old defender, was left out of the trip for the match against Žalgiris solely by coach Gonzalo García's decision, raising suspicions of a new disciplinary incident.
Marin Skelin, the 19-year-old defender, was left out of the trip for the match against Žalgiris solely by coach Gonzalo García's decision, raising suspicions of a new disciplinary incident.
Hajduk's footballers are playing their third qualifying round match of the Conference League against hosts Žalgiris in Vilnius tonight, and coach Gonzalo García has named his squad for the occasion. Observers immediately noticed that Marin Skelin was not among the travelers to Lithuania. The young 19-year-old center-back didn't even sit on the bench.
According to Dalmatinski Portal, the reason for Skelin's absence is not related to any injury. It is solely coach García's assessment, which will inevitably spark a new wave of questions about this promising player's position within the team. If it turns out to be a disciplinary measure, it would mean the offense was of a more serious nature. For comparison, both Marko Livaja and Dalisson have had their incidents in the past, with Dalisson's lateness to a meeting resulting only in his omission from the squad for the match against Žilina, but both quickly returned to the regular rotation.
Skelin's role in recent matches is also telling. In the away game against Žilina, he started from the first minute while Dario Marešić was out due to injury, and in both matches against Pafos, he got opportunities coming off the bench. However, in the home match against Varaždin, he didn't enter the game at all, and the starting spot went to even younger Roko Gabrić. This turn of events paints a clear picture of the current pecking order under the Uruguayan coach, and it's possible that this drop in hierarchy is behind the whole situation. Without official confirmation from the club, any conclusion about the causes remains speculative.
The irony is that at the start of last season, it was Skelin who figured as coach García's first choice. His rise was abruptly halted by a serious injury, and the void was filled by Branimir Mlačić. He made the most of the opportunity, which ultimately led to his transfer from the club. Now, Skelin seems to find himself in an unenviable position from which he'll have to fight his way back into the spotlight.
