Vejić Blasts Garcia After Hajduk's Latest Defeat: "It's a Disgrace"
The former national team player didn't mince words after Hajduk's loss in Varaždin, particularly criticizing the treatment of Marko Livaja.
The former national team player didn't mince words after Hajduk's loss in Varaždin, particularly criticizing the treatment of Marko Livaja.
The first weekend of the SuperSport HNL brought victories for Dinamo and Rijeka, but also another shock for Hajduk. After being eliminated by Pafos in Europe, the Split side fell 2:1 away to Varaždin. The Whites' performance was analyzed in the MAXSport studio by former Croatian international and Hajduk player Hrvoje Vejić, who didn't hold back in his criticism of coach Gonzalo Garcia.
Vejić was extremely harsh, emphasizing that the team's play reflects the coach's work. "The team's play is a mirror of the coach, and the match in Varaždin is something that should sadden and anger every Hajduk fan," said Vejić. He was particularly bothered by Garcia's assessment of what was seen on the pitch. "Garcia should focus on how his team looks and be more realistic. With him, everything is always fine. He says Hajduk created chances, but they created nothing. It's a disgrace how Hajduk played in Varaždin," concluded the former center-back.
Beyond the general criticism of the play, Vejić specifically addressed the treatment of captain Marko Livaja, who missed a penalty in the closing stages that would have leveled the score. His shot was saved by Varaždin goalkeeper Josip Silić. "I don't see Hajduk having a team that will lift itself up. You've completely degraded the team captain. A player who is an absolute legend of the club, who has put up numbers that no one will ever replicate. You've degraded him because he's a forward who doesn't play defense. Terrible," Vejić said.
The former international continued to list what he considers Garcia's illogical decisions. "Then we put a player brought in as the best winger to play as the main striker because he's good in defense. For the main defensive player, we bring in someone who is great but doesn't know how to defend. The left-back with the best cross in the league is placed in defensive midfield where he has no idea what he's doing," Vejić listed, as reported by Index.hr.
Unlike Hajduk, Dinamo successfully opened the season with a 2:0 win against Slaven Belupo at Maksimir. Vejić particularly praised Luka Stojković, who returned from suspension in European matches and assisted Dion Drena Beljo for the second goal in the 52nd minute.
"A brilliant ball from Stojković before Dinamo's second goal. He showed how much he was missed in the European matches. He's a player who is, after all, different from the rest. In my opinion, he's absolutely a candidate for the national team in the near future. He'll certainly be in the starting eleven against Žalgiris," Vejić stated for MAXSport.
Rijeka also celebrated in the first round, defeating Rudeš 2:1.
