Mario Jović, a Slavonian coach with 11 years of experience in Norway, analyzed for Večernji list the strength of Viking, the Norwegian league, and Dinamo's chances ahead of the Champions League playoff.
After Dinamo convincingly defeated Lithuanian side Kauno Žalgiris 5:0 in the second qualifying round, the Blues secured their place in the Champions League playoffs. Their final obstacle on the road to the elite competition will be Norwegian champions Viking from Stavanger. Mario Jović, a Croatian coach who has been working in Norway for over a decade, spoke to Večernji list about the strength and specifics of that club, as well as the entire Norwegian league.
In an interview conducted while he was visiting his native Slavonia with his family, Jović revealed that he has fully adapted to life in the north of Europe. "I live and work there, I can say I'm doing well; I've been in Norway for eleven years now, with that small break in Denmark, and I can say that this is now my natural habitat," he said. He added that over time he has also mastered the Norwegian language, although it wasn't a problem initially since everyone speaks English.
Jović also witnessed the great success of the Norwegian national team at the recent World Cup, which sparked an eruption of enthusiasm across the entire country. "They truly enjoyed this World Cup. The whole nation was thrilled; everyone was behind the national team-the prince and the king, everyone was with the team, close to the squad, and the whole country really enjoyed it," he recounted the atmosphere. He emphasized that he also enjoyed watching them, especially since he has colleagues working with the national team.
Regarding the upcoming clash with Dinamo, Jović highlights a characteristic of the Norwegian mentality. "Norwegians are generally very rational and calm; they wouldn't even be focusing on Dinamo if the Blues hadn't won 5:0; they would play their own game and wait for the outcome of that third qualifying round, focusing on their own championship," he explained. However, he stressed that Viking is an exceptionally well-organized club that has developed brilliantly over the last five or six years, both logistically and operationally, receiving the highest rating from the Norwegian federation for organization, staffing, and coaching staff.
Comparing the leagues, Jović was clear: "The Norwegian league is much more intense than ours; I'm not just talking about running, but the whole game is more intense." He specifically warned about the playing surface. "Mostly, games are played on artificial turf, which Dinamo just encountered in Switzerland; 13 out of 16 clubs in the league have artificial turf," he said.
He also described the profile of players dominating the Norwegian championship. "The league is very intense; everyone has very skillful and fast wingers. If I were a scout, I'd bring in wingers and 'eights' from Norway. All the 'eights' in Norway play like, for example, Mudražija did at Lokomotiva; under Goran Tomić, Lokos had fast wingers, and it's all quite similar to what Norwegian clubs are playing now," Jović analyzed, adding that the Norwegian league is second in the world in terms of high-speed running.
Jović sees Viking's captain, Zlatko Tripić, as the biggest threat to Dinamo's defense. "He has Balkan football ideas; he's excellent at free kicks, very good in the final third, great in one-on-one situations; they have individual quality in him," he pointed out.
What makes Viking unique on a global scale is their coaching model. "What's particularly interesting is that Viking has two head coaches. At first, I thought it was some kind of joke, but then I saw them leading the team together during a match. They even give interviews one after the other, make decisions together, and you'll always find on their website 'as our coaches say'," Jović revealed.
As for predictions, Jović is cautious but clear about the first leg in Zagreb. "The first match is at Maksimir? In that match, Dinamo is the favorite, and for advancing, I really don't know; if I knew, I'd bet on it, but it will be very tough. Of course, subjectively, I'd like Dinamo to go through and reach the Champions League," he concluded. He also stressed that Norwegian clubs, led by Bodø/Glimt, Brann Bergen, and Molde, are no longer a surprise in Europe and are fully familiar with European standards.
