Crowding in Dinamo’s Dressing Room: Kovačević Signals More Departures

Dinamo Zagreb’s summer rebuild has left Mario Kovačević facing intense competition for places, and the coach expects the dressing room could become less crowded before the Croatian transfer window closes on Sept. 7.

Dinamo will host Gorica at Maksimir on Saturday from 6 p.m. in the fifth round of the SuperSport HNL. The club added Smail Prevljak, Aleks Stojaković, Dominik Kotarski, Lautaro Ultra, Luka Ivanušec, Stjepan Radeljić, Kiril Kravcov, Dani Rodriguez, Noah Nsoki, Mislav Oršić and Iker Almena during the summer. Lukas Kačavenda also returned after a loan spell. Kovačević said Kotarski, who joined on loan from Copenhagen, is currently closest to making his debut.

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We wanted the Champions League, but the Europa League is also a major challenge. Our goals are the championship and the Cup, but we want to do as well as possible in Europe.

The coach said Dinamo had wanted to reach the Champions League, but now sees the Europa League as a major challenge. The team’s domestic targets are the championship and the Cup, while it also wants to perform as well as possible in Europe.

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We’ll see. Competition is strong in some positions. I believe there will be more departures. Every player wants to play for Dinamo. If someone is the third or fourth option, perhaps it is better for him to go somewhere else.

Fran Topić, Robert Mudražija and Paulo Tabinas were left off the European squad list. With strong competition in several positions, Kovačević expects more players may leave. “We’ll see. Competition is strong in some positions. I believe there will be more departures. Every player wants to play for Dinamo. If someone is the third or fourth option, perhaps it is better for him to go somewhere else.”

Dion Drena Beljo has continued his strong form and remains one of Dinamo’s main attacking threats. Kovačević is less concerned about the wings, although their output has not yet reached his expectations. He sees Ivanušec as a possible solution because he can play in several positions, but currently views him mainly as a central midfielder. Before the Sept. 16 European match against Hapoel Beer Sheva, Dinamo will play three more domestic fixtures. Gorica, bottom of the table with one point, recently drew 0-0 with Rijeka, and Kovačević expects a difficult opponent with nothing to lose.

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Gorica were particularly good in their last match against Rijeka, 0-0. They will give everything; nobody is happy when they are last. They have nothing to lose in a match like this. I believe we will show our true face, and we want to settle the question of the winner as soon as possible.