Dinamo's coach announced squad rotations for the clash with Rudeš, confirmed Luka Stojković's absence due to injury, and gave full support to goalkeepers Nevistić and Zagorac following Filipović's suspension.
Dinamo coach Mario Kovačević announced the match of the 3rd round of the SuperSport HNL against Rudeš, which will be played on Friday at 8 PM at Maksimir. He emphasized that there will be significant changes to the starting lineup compared to the European match played in Lithuania, where Dinamo secured a place in the Champions League playoff on Tuesday in Kaunas.
Kovačević explained that the changes are not an end in themselves but a reflection of the squad depth at his disposal. "We will rotate, not for the sake of it, but because we have a deep squad; I even feel sorry that I can't give opportunities to more than 16 players. I trust those who play less. Everyone is working well, and I can't wait for them to play tomorrow; it's their chance to prove themselves, show what they can do, and compete for future matches," said Kovačević.
He particularly stressed that points in the league are extremely important and that he doesn't want to think beyond Rudeš, although it's clear that a crucial clash with Norwegian side Viking in the Champions League playoff awaits on Tuesday.
The biggest concern ahead of the match is Luka Stojković, who will not be available for Rudeš due to injury. "He didn't train yesterday and won't be in the squad for Rudeš. Perez-Vinlöf also took a knock, but he's fine. We won't rush Stojković; there's no need. I believe he'll be ready for the playoff, which is now the most important thing," Kovačević stated.
Mateo Perez-Vinlöf, who also sustained a knock in Kaunas, trained and will be in contention for the squad, the coach confirmed.
A special topic was the goalkeeper situation. Ivan Filipović received a red card against Kauno Žalgiris, so Ivan Nevistić will get the chance in Europe, with Zagorac also available. Kovačević firmly stood behind his goalkeepers.
"I'm not worried about Nevistić. We can count on him. Nevistić has quality; he was in a crisis, so we changed him, but he's working hard and trying. Zagorac is also here; I have no doubts about the quality of our goalkeepers. They're not at Dinamo for nothing. A small crisis can happen, but I've never doubted their quality. I expect them to do their job and show why they're at Dinamo," Kovačević said.
Asked about public pressure and comparisons with former goalkeepers, he added: "We talk a lot with everyone; of course, negativity affects them, but my job as a coach is to encourage and help them. We all want more and better, but with these goalkeepers, we've been on a winning streak for a while, and I don't see any panic. We all make mistakes, but there have been more good things."
Kovačević also confirmed that Robert Mudražija will be in contention for the squad against Rudeš, although he wasn't registered for European matches and there were talks about a loan. "There were discussions about him going on loan, but he's still with us. We didn't register him for the European match, so he wasn't in the squad, but he will be in the squad against Rudeš," he said.
Dinamo's spokesperson Marko Bošnir briefly addressed inquiries about Dominik Kotarski, Copenhagen's goalkeeper, saying he couldn't comment on players not at the club, but that UEFA regulations are quite clear.
Despite Rudeš's poor start to the season, having conceded eight goals, Kovačević is not underestimating the opponent. "Every opponent is similar; Rudeš hasn't started well in the league, but there have been good segments of play, especially against Osijek before they fell apart. We approach every opponent with seriousness; we know they'll defend and look for counterattacks," analyzed the Dinamo coach.
He emphasized the importance of patience and an early goal to ease the path to victory, aware that Rudeš will seek opportunities on the break.
