Hajduk Split host Slovak side Žilina at Poljud on Thursday at 8 pm in the first qualifying round of the Europa League, with coach Gonzalo Garcia and player Michele Šego addressing the media ahead of the tie.
Garcia was upbeat about the state of the squad, pointing to a strong pre-season as a positive sign heading into the European campaign. “We are building the squad, and we have signed several players. The team is training very well, better than last year. The chemistry is excellent, they have energy, and they feel good.” When asked immediately about the status of Marko Livaja, Garcia did not reveal much. “Marko has returned to the squad. The club has given you all the information on that. I won’t be telling you who will play tomorrow.”
Garcia was asked whether Hajduk can challenge for the title this season. “We don’t have a lot of new players yet. Four or five new players have come in. We are communicating and discussing realistic possibilities. We will fight to win every match, but first we need to build the squad and a strong mentality.”
Garcia was respectful of the challenge Žilina present while making his ambitions for the evening clear. “They are good. They are physically strong, and they press a lot. They are a young and talented team; it will be difficult, but we have prepared well. I want 6-0 tomorrow,” he laughed. “This tie is played over 180 minutes. We need to be competitive and play our game. Whatever happens tomorrow will not be the end of the story, but we want to win.”
Asked about Hajduk’s lack of intensity in certain matches last season, Garcia acknowledged the issue while pointing to reinforcements as the remedy. “A lack of intensity was a problem for us in some matches. When not everyone does their job, the weaknesses become more visible. We now have some new players — Del Moral, who is not yet ready, Pajaziti, Puki, Brruti, and Dalisson. We are still looking for solutions. We are without Sigur, who will miss the next two matches. We still have work to do, but I am satisfied with the players who have arrived. They have an excellent attitude and bring good energy to the dressing room.”
On the departures of Šarlija and Krovinović: “They were important players, but that is football. We need to refresh and bring new energy to move forward.”
Garcia was also asked about the recently departed Croatia national team coach Zlatko Dalić. “He was probably your most successful national team coach. He is always calm and dedicated, always prepares his team well. Croatia was one of the most successful national teams in the world, and that is his achievement. He is a wonderful example. We spoke once, and what he said to me showed me he is a great and humble man. I have enormous respect for him.”
Garcia rounded off the press conference with a World Cup prediction. “The teams are very evenly matched and nobody is winning easily; even the strongest nations are struggling. I think Spain has the edge, with France not far behind.”
Michele Šego also spoke to the press, keeping his expectations grounded ahead of the match. “How many goals can we expect? As many as God gives us. We will see. I feel good, but I don’t want to make any promises. Every win is a good win, and we will give everything we have.”
Šego was full of confidence about the pre-season preparations. “I feel great. We have worked on everything and got ourselves to 100 percent. We won every pre-season match, and we are excited for the season to begin.”
On Garcia’s demands, Šego was clear about what the coach expects. “The coach has demanded a high press from day one. I hope we show that tomorrow and throughout the entire season.”
