Hajduk seeks first league points on Sunday at Poljud against Istra 1961. Coach Garcia praised the Pula side and revealed what kind of midfielder he needs, while the visitors say they are coming for a positive result.
Hajduk's footballers will host Istra 1961 at Poljud on Sunday at 9 PM in the second round of the SuperSport HNL. After a 2-1 defeat at Varaždin in the season opener, the Whites will look for their first league points in front of their fans. Gonzalo Garcia's side returned to Split with a huge dose of confidence after thrashing Žalgiris 5-2 in Vilnius on Thursday in the first leg of the third qualifying round of the Conference League.
At the pre-match press conference, Garcia spoke openly about the team's condition, the profile of player he lacks, and rumors that have surfaced in public. Particularly interesting was his comment on the potential arrival of Lindon Selahi, a midfielder he knows well from their time together at Twente.
Although he did not confirm that negotiations with the Albanian international are underway, Garcia precisely described the characteristics of the reinforcement he is looking for. "We need such a player; he must be defensively strong and able to dictate the tempo of the match. That's when we are at our best. I know Lindon; he played under me at Twente, but as far as I know, the club is not in contact with him. But yes, we need a player with those characteristics," said the Hajduk coach.
He also stressed that he does not regret the departures of Hugo Guillamón and Filip Krovinović, who left the club this summer. "We are looking for such players on the market. We have Niko Sigur who can play that role, but I don't regret letting them go. There are several reasons why we decided that some players had to leave. I think we need to be a team with more intensity, speed, and running," he said.
Good news regarding center-back Alec Van Hoorenbeeck, who left the pitch against Žalgiris. Garcia explained that it was not an injury but a precautionary measure. "We took Alec off as a precaution, but everything is fine. He's not injured; he just felt some discomfort. I know the players are tired. We had a very tough week with many away games; it killed us. I didn't want some players who are on the edge to accumulate extra fatigue," he said.
He also touched on the fatigue that, according to him, was the team's main problem, not a bad atmosphere in the dressing room. "Those stories about the atmosphere and the state of the dressing room are strange. Our biggest problem was that we had many consecutive away games, and the travel exhausted us. I was tired, and I only travel with the team; I don't train or play. That destroyed us. It's bad when you have 72 hours between matches and you spend 20 hours on the road. Now everything is fine; the players are well and have physically recovered," he said.
He also commented on the situation with young center-back prospect Marin Skelin, who did not travel to Lithuania. "Skelin has a great future at this club, but I think he needs continuity. I wanted to give him that here last season, but I couldn't due to injuries. Now I think he needs to change his environment because he fluctuates a lot and deals with great pressure. He needs a place where he can gain routine, and then next season he could be a new player ready to be a Hajduk player," Garcia explained. He sent a similar message to Noa Skoko, for whom he said he will get a chance elsewhere because in the past two or three years at the club he missed the opportunities given to him.
The Hajduk coach also commented on the formation change against Žalgiris, where he played with a different setup instead of three at the back. "Every match is special, and we prepare each one according to what we think is best for it. I think we were good with three at the back, but we had matches where we had problems with that formation. It's important that the players on the pitch feel what is best for them," said Garcia, dismissing the idea that it is a permanent system change.
He also addressed criticism of the center-backs, who have been targeted for their reactions in transition after losing the ball. "I think we have good players, but it's true that those criticisms are somewhat justified. It's not easy for them either; the situation is a bit more complex than it seems. It's also important where the team loses the ball before the opponent starts their transition; it's not all down to the center-backs. I'm happy with the players I have, but we are on the market and working," he said.
On the other side, Istra 1961 arrives in Split without fear, with a clear intention to surprise the favored hosts. The Pula side lost 3-2 at home to Lokomotiva in the first round but left a good impression. Coach Javier Cabello is satisfied with the week of preparation. "The training week went well, and I'm satisfied with the way the team is working. We had enough time and did everything to prepare as best as possible for Sunday. Hajduk is one of the best teams in the league, has very quality players and coaches, and also plays in Europe, which says enough about their quality. A demanding match awaits us because Hajduk plays at home in front of their fans," said Cabello.
The Istra coach is aware that his team must give their maximum if they want to get something from Poljud. "I expect Hajduk at a high level, and that's why we also have to be at 100 percent if we want to match them and try to win. All our players are available and training. It's a long competition, and it's clear you want to win every match, but the result, whether positive or negative, must not affect our work. We have to maintain the rhythm and quality of training regardless of what happens on the weekend. That's a process that will eventually bring results," he added.
Istra player Emil Frederiksen said that the atmosphere in the team is good and that the disappointment after the defeat to Lokomotiva has left no trace. "We know a demanding match awaits us, a great atmosphere at the stadium, and a large number of Hajduk fans. We are aware of all that, but we see this match as a great opportunity to show how good a team we are, that we are not afraid of anyone, and that we have worked well," said Frederiksen and added that they have been seriously preparing all week for the Split side.
Garcia, who previously coached Istra, admitted that he likes the way the Pula side plays and that he knows some of their players well. "They were unlucky in the first match. I watched Istra mostly on the plane, and I watched some before; I really like what they are doing. They play much better than they did before. They are more compact than before. With and without the ball, they are better; they have a clear idea of how they want to play. I like what they are doing. I enjoyed watching their matches. They brought some very good players into the first team; I remember one midfielder because I also included him in training while I was at the club. I think they will have a good season if they have a bit more luck," concluded the Whites' strategist. Hajduk cannot afford another league slip-up on Sunday, especially ahead of the return leg against Lithuanian side Žalgiris, scheduled for August 13.
