Lokomotiva hosts Gorica on Saturday at 9 PM in the second round of the HNL, and the Zagreb side's coach, Nikica Jelavić, is aware that the result from the first round must not mislead his team.
Lokomotiva's footballers host Gorica on Saturday evening in their second-round HNL match. The game kicks off at 9 PM, with both teams entering it in vastly different moods after the opening round. While the Zagreb side secured a win against Istra, Velika Gorica suffered a defeat at the hands of Osijek.
Lokomotiva coach Nikica Jelavić doesn't hide his concern over the open style of play favored by Gorica's manager, Mario Carević. Although his team took all three points, he admits that the performance against Istra wasn't up to par and that a significantly better display will be needed for another victory.
Jelavić stressed that the three points from the first round bring peace of mind but must not become an excuse for poor play. The coaching staff spent the week meticulously analyzing errors and preparing solutions to ensure the team looks more solid and polished in all aspects against Gorica.
"Lokomotiva secured three points against Istra in the opening round, although the displayed game didn't fully satisfy its coach," HRT reports Jelavić's thoughts. The focus is on executing agreed tasks and reacting better in situations where players erred against Istra.
The Lokomotiva coach particularly highlighted the danger coming from the Velika Gorica camp. He believes that the loss to Osijek doesn't reflect Gorica's true quality, which, like Lokomotiva, lost some players during the transfer window. Despite the changes, Velika Gorica has a recognizable approach and won't abandon their ideas.
"He especially singled out coach Mario Carević, who prefers open football." This style of play can give the opponent chances but simultaneously generates many risky moments and demands complete focus. Therefore, Lokomotiva must not enter without caution, regardless of the differing outcomes from the first round.
Good news for the coaching staff is that Jelavić has no injury concerns. He emphasized that the squad is in good shape, and captain Matija Subotić also mentioned the positive atmosphere. As he says, the players trained diligently all week and can't wait for the next league challenge.
Subotić advises that Gorica should not be underestimated due to their slower start to the season. He believes Lokomotiva will secure another three points if his team fulfills the tasks from training and translates the learned elements onto the pitch. The hosts will thus aim to combine better play with new points and further boost their confidence at the start of the competition.
