Rijeka defends their 1:0 lead in Finland against Ilves on Thursday, and coach Matjaž Kek revealed the state of the dressing room at a press conference, sending a clear message to his team.
Rijeka's footballers will face Finnish side Ilves on Thursday, August 13, in the return leg of the third qualifying round of the Conference League. After a narrow 1:0 victory at Rujevica, Matjaž Kek's team travels to Tampere with the aim of defending their advantage and securing a place in the next stage of the competition. The match at Tammelan Stadium kicks off at 6 PM.
Rijeka's coach is aware that the job is not done and that his team faces a tough test in Finland. "A lead is a lead, it should have been bigger, but the first match showed that Ilves can be very tricky if we're not at our best, if we're not tactically disciplined," Kek said in the pre-match press conference.
The Slovenian tactician emphasized that there is no room for calculations and that his team must focus on themselves first and foremost. "We have nothing to calculate; we must show our true face, the right approach, and quality. We need to think about the quality of our play and how to score a goal, not about the lead," Kek stated.
Kek warned that the Finns have already successfully overturned deficits at home in previous qualifying rounds. "They've been talking a lot about how they're different at home, how they're a completely different side. I believe that, with their fans behind them, they're a team that looks more forward. They've managed to come back from behind in two qualifying rounds already, and that should serve as a warning to us, but above all, we need to think about ourselves. I want us to be better than in the first match. Some things were fine, but there was also a lot that we need to play better," said Rijeka's coach.
One of the topics ahead of the return leg was the artificial surface at Tammelan Stadium. Kek admitted it's a complicating factor but doesn't want to use it as an excuse. "It's a different surface, and if Ilves trains and plays on it regularly, it means it's easier for them. We went to watch their match on Sunday and saw the conditions awaiting us; we simply need to adapt in one training session. We won't overthink it, because the artificial turf here is completely different from the one in Finland. It's 11 vs. 11, and one training session should be enough to adapt," he explained.
Adding to Rijeka's concerns are injury problems. Kek revealed that some players are not fully fit but singled out one he can count on. "Some players have issues, and we'll only resolve that situation tomorrow at the final training session. Tiago Dantas will definitely play, while all others who were doubtful remain in that status," Kek concluded.
