Love for Maksimir Won't Stop the Fight: Sopić Announces Maximum Resistance to Dinamo
Kauno Žalgiris coach admits he has always been a Dinamo fan, but stresses his team will give their all in the Champions League third qualifying round return leg.
Kauno Žalgiris coach admits he has always been a Dinamo fan, but stresses his team will give their all in the Champions League third qualifying round return leg.
Željko Sopić, who leads Lithuanian champions Kauno Žalgiris, has achieved a historic success by reaching the third qualifying round of the Champions League. After his players eliminated Kosovo's Drita and Klaksvik from the Faroe Islands, they now face a clash with Dinamo, a club Sopić openly says he has adored since birth.
The first leg will be played on August 4, 2026, in Zagreb at Maksimir, with the return leg on August 11, 2026. Sopić is aware of the magnitude of the task but insists his team will give their all.
Before the trip to Zagreb, Sopić, as reported by 24sata, first thanked the fans at a press conference. "First, I want to say not a big, but a huge thank you to the fans. I hear the president of the country was also here; it was a wonderful evening for all of us," he stated. He then addressed the issues in Lithuanian football that, in his view, hinder the club's European journey.
"I'm a football coach; I don't understand how it's possible that our federation closes the transfer window on July 15. It's a federation of all clubs, and we play the league to qualify for Europe," Sopić said. He pointed out that Scandinavian countries like Norway, Denmark, Iceland, and Sweden keep their transfer windows open during the summer, giving them an advantage. He added that it's impossible to properly prepare a player without at least 30 to 45 days of training, and his team lacks time because they play every three days.
When journalists mentioned Dinamo, Sopić didn't hide his emotions. "Honestly, I was born in Zagreb, the capital of Croatia. From day one, I've been a Dinamo fan, and I'll die as a Dinamo fan," said the coach, who has been a player, a reserve team coach, and an interim head coach at Dinamo. He emphasized that for Zagreb residents, Dinamo is everything.
Nevertheless, he is aware of the difference in quality and financial power between the two clubs. "When we talk about budget and quality, it's normal that Dinamo has the edge. But on the other hand, we'll go there and give everything we have at this moment," he said.
Sopić also explained the challenges with reinforcements. Given that the Lithuanian transfer window closed on July 15, 2026, the club can only sign free agents. "You can't imagine the type of player I can bring in on loan. But... the transfer window is closed," he said. He added that even if he brought in quality players, there's no time to prepare them because matches come every three days, and players who aren't in training need at least two to three weeks to be ready.
He particularly highlighted the example of Leon Kreković, a former Hajduk player who scored the winning goal in the return leg against Klaksvik. "I know Kreković gave his all today, but gentlemen, he's been training for a week and a half," he said, adding: "Honestly, the players pulled off a miracle today. You'll understand in the future when you see how it all unfolded. I don't think I'm the smartest guy; I'm not important. We must give Lithuanian coaches a better chance to succeed."
Sopić has faced Dinamo 11 times so far and has yet to taste victory. He has a slightly better record against Mario Kovačević, with two wins, three draws, and two losses against his teams. He will have the chance for his first win over Dinamo at Maksimir on August 4, 2026, where he promises a fight to the last ounce of strength, despite the love he feels for the club from his hometown.
