Vulić reveals who impressed him at Hajduk
The club legend from Poljud analyzed the convincing victory over Žalgiris and singled out the player who caught the eye with his performance.
The club legend from Poljud analyzed the convincing victory over Žalgiris and singled out the player who caught the eye with his performance.
After Hajduk convincingly defeated Lithuanian side Žalgiris 5:2 in the Conference League qualifiers on Thursday, football legend Zoran Vulić shared his impressions. In an interview with Dnevno.hr, the first Croatian international and former Hajduk player and coach particularly highlighted one player who marked the match in Lithuania.
Vulić believes that the truth about the team's current strength lies somewhere in the middle, emphasizing that this is a new squad that is still gelling. However, what particularly pleased him was the players' approach on the road. "If there was something good from this performance in Lithuania, it was the approach. We played openly and attacking away from home," Vulić said for Dnevno.hr, adding that Dinamo's clash with the Lithuanian representative also showed a huge quality gap between the Croatian and Lithuanian leagues.
When asked who left the best impression on him, Vulić did not hesitate. "Šotiček really pleasantly surprised us all. We already knew he was a talented young man, but to play his first match in a new shirt so bravely is a beautiful sight," he pointed out. According to him, Šotiček was key to Hajduk's early pressure, and the first two penalties for the Split side were awarded after his runs.
"In fact, that pressure from Hajduk from the opening minutes was his doing. Those first two penalties came after his involvement in those moves. I feel sorry that his beautiful goal at the end of the match was disallowed; it would have been a great finish to a superb performance."
Besides Šotiček, Vulić singled out two more players who deserved praise. "Pukštas was also at the level, and Šego again delivered a great free kick, making up for the missed penalty," he added. However, the focus remained on young Šotiček, for whom Vulić believes brings exactly what Hajduk was missing.
"With Šotiček, Hajduk has gained penetration, which was what the team lacked the most. He is exactly the type who knows how to bring teammates into play," Vulić emphasized, adding that Hajduk is not the favorite in the domestic league, which could be an advantage for players who are still seeking recognition.
Vulić also commented on the potential impact of qualifying for the Conference League group stage on the entire team. "I think that qualifying for the Conference League group stage would have an immensely positive effect on the confidence of the team and the new players in it. The team would also gel better and certainly be more successful in the domestic league as well," he concluded.
