Tudor Returns to Poljud: Emotions Overwhelmed Me
Former Hajduk player Fran Tudor and coach David Kroczek previewed the Rakow vs. Hajduk Conference League clash, with Tudor not hiding his emotions ahead of his return to where it all began.
Former Hajduk player Fran Tudor and coach David Kroczek previewed the Rakow vs. Hajduk Conference League clash, with Tudor not hiding his emotions ahead of his return to where it all began.
Fran Tudor, a former Hajduk player and current Rakow midfielder, returned to Poljud ahead of the first leg of the Conference League playoff. At the pre-match press conference, he didn't hide his feelings. "I'm definitely emotional. I was already overwhelmed when I was approaching Poljud," Tudor told Sportske novosti.
Tudor also spoke about his feelings upon returning to the stadium where he started his career. "I'm excited, happy, and proud," he said, adding: "Right now, only Rakow matters to me, but I couldn't have asked for a better opponent."
He vividly described the moment of arriving at the famous ground: "My heart started racing as soon as I was approaching Poljud," Tudor said, emphasizing that playing against his former club will be an incredibly emotional experience for him.
When asked what his fondest memory from his Hajduk days is, Tudor replied: "That's a tough question. I remember the people who work here, my debut, and the win against Dinamo." He clarified that the goal he scored against Dinamo in the derby stands out in particular. Although he's now on the opposite side, he hasn't forgotten the fans either. Playing in front of 30,000 people at Poljud, as he put it, will be especially emotional.
Regarding his fitness and chances of featuring, Tudor said: "I'm slowly getting back to full fitness, I feel good, and I hope to play. But it will depend on training." He added that he's still recovering from a shoulder injury and that everything will depend on how his shoulder reacts in training. Rakow are yet to pick up a single point in the league, making progress in Europe an extra motivation. "Honestly, right now, the most important thing for us is to advance in the Conference League," Tudor stressed.
Asked if he would ever return to Hajduk in a different capacity, Tudor left the door open: "We'll see, life always writes its own stories." On how much Rakow know about Hajduk, he said: "We only talked about Hajduk just before the match; I really don't need to introduce that club." He also noted that they only discussed the topic for the first time today because they had been focused on Cracovia beforehand, but everyone knows what Hajduk represents.
Rakow coach David Kroczek is aware of Hajduk's strength at home but believes in his team. "Great respect for a demanding opponent, but we are very well prepared for the match," Kroczek said. He also addressed the recent defeat: "We don't need to erase it, but rather analyze it and learn from it. We must be ready for every match in the same way."
Asked about the lineup, Kroczek said: "Everything is ready, but we'll see; there can always be last-minute changes." When asked why Marko Bulat is not in the squad, he replied curtly: "He's not in the squad for sporting reasons." When journalists pressed for more detail, he concluded: "No, I've said everything." Polish media earlier reported that Bulat had been moved to the second team, with Abraham Oja taking his place on the roster.
Rakow narrowly got past Hammarby in the previous round, and Kroczek cited that as an example of handling pressure: "We'll see; similar things were said about Hammarby, and we showed what we can do." He added that they arrived in Split fully focused on winning and that nothing is impossible, reminding that Hammarby had also been unbeaten at home for a long time. Tudor, meanwhile, added about the possibility of advancing: "I've been eliminated with Hajduk before, and I hope this time it's Rakow that goes through."
