Rijeka coach Matjaž Kek and defender Ante Oreč have announced the first UEFA Conference League play-off match against Danish side Midtjylland, scheduled for Thursday at 7 PM.
On Thursday, August 20, 2026, at 7 PM, Rijeka will face Danish side Midtjylland in the first leg of the UEFA Conference League play-off. After successfully overcoming their first two European opponents and securing a win at the start of the league season, the Whites were brought back down to earth with a defeat in Varaždin, making the Danish representative an ideal opportunity for redemption.
Matjaž Kek, Rijeka's coach, is aware of the opponent's quality and the importance of the moment. "After the draw, it was clear that a quality opponent awaited us. After all the things that weren't good in Varaždin, we want to prepare the team as best as possible. We don't have any major injury problems; the players who were out are slowly returning, so we'll see after training who we'll choose," said Kek.
The Slovenian tactician emphasized that there is no room for self-pity: "There's no moaning; we weren't at the level in Varaždin, and now we have a real European match ahead of us to see where we stand." He particularly highlighted the reaction of the Armada fan group after the league defeat.
"The Armada's reaction after Varaždin must be the biggest warning, because that much positive energy pushing them forward is something to respect, something to think about, and only with that will we move forward," Kek said.
Kek further explained how the team is dealing with the defeat and what he expects from the return leg: "Every match is an opportunity... I told the players that it's good when a new match comes three or four days after a defeat to correct it. We need to be objective and clear; Midtjylland is European quality that must be respected, but we must talk more about ourselves than worry about them. Rijeka has already shown in European matches that they can play well, but it's not enough to talk about it; we need to show it on the pitch."
He also touched on the dressing room atmosphere and the players returning from injury: "There are no major injury concerns. Puljić, who has already played a bit, Ćubelić, Toni, and Vignato are slowly getting back into normal rhythm. After training, we'll see which players are in contention for the trip to Denmark."
From the team's perspective, defender Ante Oreč announced the match. "We know a tough match awaits us, a good opponent, but this team has already shown that it can play against quality opponents in Europe. We're ready and can't wait for the match," said Oreč.
The young defender is aware of the challenge posed by the Danish side: "Midtjylland is better than our previous European opponents; they have experience, play faster, are physically strong, and we'll need to find a way to respond to that. We know what this match means to the club; we represent Croatian football and ourselves, and we want to show ourselves in the best light."
The Whites held their final training before the match in Rijeka, so they won't have the chance to adapt to the mixed turf there, which they'll only feel just before the match. Kek doesn't see this as a problem but as a challenge in a demanding period at the start of the season.
Explaining the reasons behind this decision, Kek said: "This time, we would have trained in the afternoon there to have a bit more time after the last match, but logistically it just wasn't possible. For the sake of efficiency in the final training, we decided to train at Rujevica. Everything was done on the club's side, but accommodation options are no closer than 80 kilometers away. Spending two and a half hours driving back and forth, I think, wouldn't be wise."
He also commented on the Danish opponent's style of play: "They are a team of good and quality individuals. Their style of play is primarily characterized by aggression and verticality. We'll have to respond much better than we did in the first half in Varaždin."
Fiuman.hr broadcast the press conference and the statements given by Matjaž Kek and Ante Oreč.
