Hajduk defends a 5-2 lead from Vilnius against Žalgiris at Poljud on Wednesday. Coach Gonzalo Garcia and captain Toni Silić have announced a fight for victory despite the heat and fatigue.
Hajduk welcomes Lithuanian side Žalgiris to Poljud on Wednesday for the return leg of the third qualifying round of the Conference League. The Split side secured a convincing 5-2 victory in the first leg in Vilnius, building a significant advantage ahead of the decisive clash on home turf. However, the club is not underestimating the opponent, aware of their own inconsistencies so far this season.
Captain Toni Silić did not hide his emotions at the press conference regarding his new role in the team. "Certainly, having been here all my life, it is an honor and a pride for both me and my family," said Silić, who was appointed captain by coach Garcia.
Speaking about the advantage from the first leg, Silić was clear: "The lead is significant; we won away, but we will enter the match with the intention to go for another win-that's the only way we know how to play."
The captain is also aware of the defensive issues, especially the goals conceded in the closing stages of matches. "We are working on it; it's not nice to concede many goals, and the fact that we concede quite a few in the final minutes is clearly not a coincidence. It's a process we need to go through, and I hope it will be better in the future," he added.
Coach Gonzalo Garcia warns that a three-goal lead must not be an excuse for complacency. "Nothing is certain; there is no safe lead. You have to play with the mindset that the first leg was 0-0. If you think otherwise, surprises are possible. We must go out tomorrow and play to win," the Spaniard stated.
He specifically addressed the extreme heat that has hit Split and the entire region. "It's never good to train and play in such high temperatures, but it will certainly be easier for us than for them. It's true that when you're in these temperatures every day, you try to train as late as possible, but it requires extra energy; you need to rest well and stay hydrated," Garcia explained.
The coach also announced possible rotations in the lineup due to the congested match schedule. "Everyone except Brajković is available and ready to play. It's true that we have a lot of matches, and fatigue has piled up, both physical and mental. We will make some changes to have fresh legs and minds, and to give some players the chance to show what they can do," he said.
Garcia does not want to think about the next SuperSport HNL round and the match against Gorica. "We're not thinking about it; tomorrow is Žalgiris, and only after that Gorica. Nothing is over; we must play with maximum seriousness. They overturned a 0-3 deficit last round and won 7-2," emphasized the Hajduk coach.
Hajduk has shown two sides so far this season: capable of outplaying Pafos and Žalgiris, but also losing to Žilina, Varaždin, and Istra. Silić believes the team can replicate their performance from Vilnius: "If we enter with the same approach and energy, we'll play a good match and advance to the playoff, where we haven't been for years. We want to show our true face."
