Kauno Žalgiris coach, a self-confessed Dinamo fan, admitted the difference in quality after a heavy 5:0 defeat at Maksimir and announced a focus on the domestic league and the Conference League. Kovačević announces rotations and a fight for the coefficient.
In the first leg of the third qualifying round of the Champions League, Dinamo dismantled Lithuanian side Kauno Žalgiris 5:0 at Maksimir. The convincing victory brought calm ahead of the return leg, and home coach Mario Kovačević did not hide his satisfaction with what he saw, although he admitted it was not easy to break down the visitors' organized defense.
"Everything was visible on the pitch. The most important thing is that we prepared the match well and knew what to expect," Kovačević said after the match for Sportske novosti. He emphasized that the team patiently built attacks until they broke through the visitors' organized defense. "After the first goal, everything was easier. It's important that we continued in the second half, and in the end we are satisfied with the performance and the result. We didn't allow the opponent anything, except for that shot off the post."
He particularly praised striker Beljo, who did not get on the scoresheet. "Beljo didn't score, but I have to praise him because he did other things well," he added. Kovačević confirmed that he will give opportunities to the wider squad in the return leg in Kaunas, but with a clear goal. "In the last week, I've given all my players a chance. We will continue to do that; they are all good and quality players. We're going there seriously, regardless of the result. We're going for the win, and the points for the coefficient are important to us."
Dinamo's coach also commented on the importance of Luka Stojković to the team's play. "I repeat about Stojković: we are better and more quality with him. A player like that makes all of us better; that's how it is in every team in the world," Kovačević stressed.
Regarding a potential opponent in the play-offs, Norwegian side Viking, Kovačević admitted he hasn't analyzed them in detail yet. "I haven't watched them; it would have been stupid to watch them before Žalgiris. If they were ahead of Bodø/Glimt and beat them 5:0, then you know they are a good and quality team," he said, announcing a soon-to-come analysis of the opponent.
On the other side, Kauno Žalgiris coach Željko Sopić, himself a declared Dinamo fan, was realistic in his assessment of the balance of power. "Dinamo was better in everything. My players lacked a bit of courage; there was fear," Sopić said for Sportske novosti. Despite the heavy defeat, he stressed he is not dissatisfied. "I'm really not dissatisfied, though that sounds funny now. I'm aware of everything: the roar of the stands, you can't pass three meters, legs are heavy... It's not that my players didn't want to or didn't give their all, but that's quality."
Sopić also revealed the emotional side of the evening. "It's not easy. When you know all the songs and sing them in your soul, but I was on the opposite side and wanted to give everything to achieve a good result," he admitted. He also reflected on the conditions in Croatia, mentioning the reactions of his colleagues from Lithuania. "People come from Lithuania and can't believe it; we are second and third in the world. Kranjčevićeva will come, the new Maksimir, but the only problem is that it's 2026."
Aware of his team's limitations at this level of competition, Sopić clearly stated where he sees his club's future in Europe. "I'm a Dinamo fan and I'm not nervous. I'm aware of my team. It would be the same if we played against Lech Poznań or Red Star. It will be easier for us in the Conference League. When we play in front of 10-12 thousand fans, we make big mistakes; there aren't that many fans in Lithuania. Dinamo is for the Champions League, and we are for the Conference League," he said for HRT.
The Lithuanian club now turns its focus to the domestic league and upcoming European challenges in the lower tier of competition. "We earned some coins and invested some in players, and we'll bring in one more; we'll definitely be better when the Conference League comes. Or the Europa League. We just need to beat 'some' Beşiktaş," Sopić concluded ironically, alluding to the difficult path to the Europa League group stage. The return leg will be played on Tuesday in Kaunas.
Dinamo celebrated the victory on social media with witty posts. "Oh dear, we're not doing well!!! 🖐️" and "Is it hot here or is it just us? 💙🤷♂️," reads the posts on the club's official Twitter profile, clearly alluding to the 'five-goal blast' with which they sent off the Lithuanian champions.
