In a major interview, Dinamo captain Josip Mišić admitted he wanted to leave last summer, but Zvonimir Boban convinced him to stay. He also revealed what the legendary sporting director told them after the dramatic comeback against Swiss side Thun.
Dinamo's footballers advanced to the third qualifying round of the Champions League in dramatic fashion, defeating Swiss side Thun, and tonight at Maksimir they open the new SuperSport HNL season against Slaven Belupo. Just before that clash, captain Josip Mišić gave a major interview to Sportske novosti, carried by Tportal and Dnevno.hr, in which he spoke openly about the European two-legged tie, Zvonimir Boban's arrival in the dressing room, and his own desire to leave the club last summer.
Mišić admitted that the team was not at an optimal level against Thun, who played a specific brand of football. "You can't expect them to build play through passes; they play long balls, fight for second balls, and they are very good at that. It was hard for us; we didn't adapt well to their style," he told Sportske novosti. However, he stressed that getting through was what mattered most. "It wasn't ideal, it was stressful and difficult, but we also have to be realistic: we had problems in qualifying against Shkupi and Valur, and Thun are a considerably better side than those two," he added.
The day after the comeback, the arrival of sporting director Zvonimir Boban in the dressing room drew a lot of attention. Mišić reveals that the messages were not harsh, but they were direct. "Yes, but there were no raised voices. He came to make it clear and to implant in our heads that the performance was not good and that we all need to be aware of that. That we have to give more," the captain recounted. Boban's influence, he adds, goes far beyond his role. "It's not just about his position, but his personality. His presence has a huge impact on the whole squad; he sends clear and concrete messages," he said.
Last summer was marked by a mass exodus of players from Dinamo, and Mišić admits he too wanted to follow in their footsteps. "All sorts of things went through my head. When I saw how many players were leaving, I myself wanted to go," he revealed. The key role in his decision to stay was played precisely by Boban. "I talked a lot with Zvone Boban. He convinced me that the best thing was to stay and that I could still help Dinamo a lot. I think that was an excellent decision," he stressed. Today, with a squad that has stabilized after the rebuild, he feels great. "I enjoy being the captain of these guys," Mišić concluded.
