"Dinamo" Coach Unsparing: "We Will Travel to Lithuania Only for Victory"

Lithuanian champions "Kauno Žalgiris" have severely complicated their path in the UEFA Champions League qualifiers, facing a daunting five-goal deficit after a heavy defeat to "Dinamo" Zagreb. The team now requires a near miracle in the second leg, scheduled to be played at the Darius and Girėnas Stadium in Lithuania.

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The players truly deserve praise. From the first minute, we imposed our game. It wasn't easy to break through their low defensive block, but after the first goal, everything became much easier. We didn't want to stop at 2:0 or 3:0, and then the goals just kept coming. We have to be satisfied.

In the first leg, "Dinamo" dominated the match, scoring two goals within the first two minutes through Miha Zajc and Scott McKenna. The Croatian champions extended their lead in the second half with goals from Mateo Lisica, Luka Stojkovičius, and Lukaš Kačavenda, securing a commanding victory. "Dinamo" coach M. Kovačevičius lauded his players for imposing their game from the outset, noting that the initial breakthrough made the subsequent goals easier.

Despite the substantial advantage, Kovačevičius emphasized that the tie is not yet over. "We don't shy away from the favorite status," he stated, vowing to pursue victory even in Lithuania. He also pointed out the scheduling advantage for his team, which has a full week to prepare for the return leg, while "Kauno Žalgiris" faces a crucial domestic match. Kovačevičius singled out Lukaš Kačavenda for praise, highlighting the young player's importance and potential, especially after overcoming injury setbacks.

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We don't shy away from the favorite status. Nothing is over yet, but we have to take advantage of the favorable situation. We wanted to play in a way that would allow us to travel to Lithuania more calmly, but we will still aim for victory there.

The Lithuanian side must now overcome this significant hurdle to advance. If they miraculously succeed, they would face Norway's "Viking" in the next qualifying round. The first legs of that potential tie are scheduled for August 18-19, with the return matches on August 25-26.

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I felt sorry for him when he went on loan last season. We had many midfielders then, but even then, I was not in favor of such a decision. This summer, he received offers, but I clearly told him that I would not let him leave unless we received adequate reinforcement. He has proven that he is an important part of our team. Luka is still young, he has had to endure a lot due to injuries, so I wish him only one thing – to stay healthy. Then he will definitely show his full potential.