Gabriel Debeljuh signed for Kauno Žalgiris three days before the Maksimir showdown and immediately boarded a plane for Zagreb. The former coach of the Lithuanian champions revealed what Sopić has changed.
Dinamo Zagreb's players kick off a new European chapter at Maksimir tonight at 8 PM. In the third qualifying round of the Champions League, they face Lithuanian champions Kauno Žalgiris, and the match carries extra intrigue with several Croats in the visitors' ranks. Alongside coach Željko Sopić and a number of players from our region, the Lithuanian club has also bolstered its squad with Rovinj-born striker Gabriel Debeljuh just ahead of the game.
Debeljuh signed his contract with Kauno Žalgiris just three days ago. He told Glas Istre how everything unfolded quickly and unexpectedly. His former coach Stjepan Tomas, who led him this spring at Romanian side Otelul Galati, played a key role. "My former coach Stjepan Tomas, who coached me this spring at Otelul Galati in Romania, recommended me to Sopić, and we reached an agreement very quickly," Debeljuh said.
Although he spent only four months in Romania, he stressed that he wanted to be completely fair to the club. "I signed a contract only until the end of the season so they could see what I can do now that I've fully recovered, and I hope to return to form. Granted, it will be at Žalgiris, but that doesn't matter. Actually, it's even better-we're playing in Europe," he added. His journey took him via Trieste and Frankfurt to Vilnius, where he underwent a medical and then had just one training session with his new teammates before flying to Zagreb.
Although he is in contention for tonight's match, Debeljuh is aware that his chances of playing are minimal. "For that reason, it's not realistic that I'll play. I'm in the squad, but if I get any minutes, it'll be a bonus," he said. Physically, he feels good and has been training individually, but he emphasizes that it's not the same as training with the team.
Interestingly, Debeljuh has experience playing against Dinamo in the Champions League. In 2020, with CFR Cluj, he played a 2-2 draw at Maksimir, scoring the equalizer in the 93rd minute. "I remember that match fondly; it was one of my first European games for Cluj. Let my performance repeat, but let the result be a bit different this time," he said.
Debeljuh also shared his first impressions of working with Željko Sopić, describing his charisma in a very vivid way. "He's a laugh, a live stand-up show. He's great; it's brilliant to be around him, and the fun is guaranteed. But when it's time to work, it's a different story. There's no backing down, no faking it, and no slacking off," Debeljuh told Glas Istre.
He added that Sopić openly tells everyone what they're good at, without beating around the bush or sugarcoating. "What you're good at is what you'll get, and some people like that, while others can't handle it, so he's viewed differently in the media," he concluded. Alongside him in the Kauno Žalgiris dressing room are Leon Kreković, Ivan Fiolić, and Antonio Kalik, as well as Slovenian Haris Kadrič.
Ahead of the match, Eivinas Černiauskas, the former Kauno Žalgiris coach who led the team to a historic Lithuanian title last year, also spoke out. He described to Lithuanian LRT how much the team has changed under the Croatian coach. "The style has definitely changed: there's no more of that long ball control and lengthy build-up play; now it's much more vertical. Maybe there's also less aggressive high pressing without the ball; it's more about waiting," Černiauskas analyzed.
He particularly highlighted one tactical novelty. "The coach even switches to a five-man defense at the back, which was never common for Kaunas before," he added. Despite that, he believes his former players can surprise the favored Dinamo. "Now they face Dinamo Zagreb-a truly big team and a famous club, but they're certainly not invincible. With a bit of luck and the right circumstances, I think the Kaunas side is capable of surprising them," he said.
Černiauskas also recalled the incredible comeback Žalgiris pulled off against Dinamo Tbilisi. "Before the return leg against Dinamo Tbilisi, their president gave them only a 9% chance to advance, and they scored seven goals," he said. He believes the Lithuanian champions could also benefit from the fact that their league is already in full swing, while the Croatian league is just starting. "The running and competitive form should be on Kaunas's side," he concluded.
Debeljuh, on the other hand, is realistic about the outcome of the two-legged tie. "We have to be realistic and say that it will be very hard to get past Dinamo, but that doesn't mean we're giving up," he said. Regardless of the result, Kauno Žalgiris has already secured European football in the autumn, which is a historic achievement for the club.
