Dinamo opens their Champions League playoff against Viking at Maksimir on Tuesday, and ahead of the clash, visiting coach Morten Jensen delighted the room with a comparison to his colleague, while captain Zlatko Tripić singled out Bad Blue Boys for special praise.
Dinamo Zagreb will play the first leg of their Champions League playoff against Norwegian side Viking at Maksimir Stadium on Tuesday, August 18, 2026. The match carries special significance as Bad Blue Boys celebrate 40 years of existence, and a victory would be the perfect birthday gift for the fans.
Ahead of the clash, at the pre-match press conference, visiting coach Morten Jensen charmed journalists with a comparison of his relationship with his coaching partner. When asked how their collaboration works, Jensen laughed as he explained that they've known each other for 15 years and that they discuss and find solutions together.
"Good question. A lot of people ask that, but we discuss things together and find a solution. We've known each other for 15 years, like we're husband and wife raising kids, ha, ha. Is a divorce on the horizon? No, we're still married," Jensen said.
Viking's captain, 33-year-old Zlatko Tripić, was born in Rijeka, with parents from Bosnia. He grew up in Norway and has spent his entire life there, and now his wish to play a European match in these parts has come true.
Tripić particularly praised the atmosphere awaiting him at Maksimir and highlighted the uniqueness of Bad Blue Boys.
"You have to awaken the mentality of these parts for matches like this. The fans will be fantastic, they'll create an incredible atmosphere, unlike anything we're used to in Norway, but we have to enjoy it. Bad Blue Boys are unique, and we want to play in this kind of atmosphere," Tripić said.
He added that Brann and Rosenborg are known for good atmospheres in Norway, but that it won't be anywhere near what awaits them in Zagreb.
Dinamo coach Mario Kovačević is aware of the importance of the match and the responsibility that comes with a European appearance. He announced that all players are healthy and ready, and that the team is improving with each game.
"I congratulate our fans on their 40th birthday, and we want our gift to be a win. We're in good form, getting better with every match, but we know that in this game we have to be at our best," Kovačević said.
Kovačević also praised the opponent, noting that Viking is a team that has been built over five or six years, and that captain Tripić makes a difference, but that they are a true team in every sense of the word.
The return leg of the UEFA Champions League playoff will be played on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, at 9 PM at Viking Stadium in Stavanger, a city on the North Sea coast. Dinamo fans will be in the away sector F, and tickets are already on sale at 249 Norwegian kroner, approximately 22 euros.
For the first leg at Maksimir, tickets remain only for the North upper stand, priced at 12 euros for members and 17 euros for other fans.
Zvone Boban, a former Dinamo player, also congratulated the fans on their birthday with a message on social media: "To you, without whom nothing is the same - for 40 years, it hasn't been the same! Happy Birthday Purgeri! Happy Birthday BBB group! Dinamo Zagreb above all, Dinamo Zagreb above everyone!"
