The legendary player and former coach of the Split club analyzed the defeats to Pafos and Varaždin and commented on captain Marko Livaja's form ahead of the European clash with Žalgiris.
Hajduk finds itself in an unenviable position at the very start of the new season. After being eliminated by Cypriot side Pafos with an aggregate score of 2:4 in the Europa League qualifiers, a 1:2 defeat away to Varaždin followed in the first round of the domestic championship. Speaking to Tportal about the situation at Poljud and the issues troubling coach Gonzalo Garcia's squad was Zoran Vulić, the legendary player and former coach who led Hajduk on five separate occasions.
Vulić was not impressed with what he saw in Varaždin, particularly in the opening 45 minutes. "The result in Varaždin wasn't what we expected. Hajduk had their chances, and I think a draw would have been the fairest outcome, but in the end, they left empty-handed," said Vulić. He added that the second half was far more interesting but also that the goals conceded were unnecessary.
"The first half was very poor, and neither Varaždin nor Hajduk played well. The second half was much more interesting, with plenty of chances, but Hajduk conceded too many cheap goals. I don't mean to diminish Varaždin's victory, as they played a good match, but rather to highlight Hajduk's problems. Both goals could have been prevented," Vulić was critical.
He placed particular emphasis on issues with set pieces, a facet of the game that has become a serious problem for Croatian teams. He reminded that Varaždin conceded all four goals in their European outings from set pieces, while Hajduk was eliminated by Pafos due to an equalizer from a corner in stoppage time.
"Set pieces must be trained like any other element of the game. Abroad, there are specialists who focus exclusively on them, while Croatian clubs often only practice them shortly before the match. That's not enough. Concentration is a big issue for us, and it also seems to me that opposing teams work much more on attacking set pieces," Vulić explained.
One of the main topics at the start of the season is the status of captain Marko Livaja, who played from the first minute against Varaždin for the first time this season. Vulić believes that the constant discussions about his role and media scrutiny have left their mark on both the player himself and the entire team.
"Everything that has been happening around Livaja has certainly affected him, but also the results. Livaja at his true level can single-handedly decide a match because he possesses great quality, but currently, he's not at that level. The constant media questioning has probably also taken its toll," said Vulić. However, he also emphasized that Hajduk is not just one player. "A striker depends on the midfielders, and they haven't helped him enough either. Livaja is always needed by this team, and I'm confident that all the discussions will stop once he returns to form. Then Hajduk will immediately look better, more quality, and more competitive."
Next up for Hajduk is a clash with Lithuanian side Žalgiris, where the Split team will be favorites. Vulić, however, warns that they must not look beyond the first hurdle. "Twenty years ago, we'd only be asking whether Hajduk would score three or four goals, but today the situation is different. There's a saying: 'Once bitten, twice shy.' Hajduk is shaken after two consecutive defeats, and it certainly won't be easy for them," he said.
He considers the team's reaction in the upcoming matches to be crucial. "The most important thing is for the players to come together, show unity, and prove they are better over those 90 or 180 minutes. They have the quality, but it's all in their hands. The favorable draw doesn't matter now. First, they need to get past Žalgiris, and only then think about the next opponent. Hajduk is still alive in Europe, their form should be improving, and it all depends on them," Vulić concluded.
