Hajduk Coach Admits Nervousness After Losses, Eyes Conference League Win

Hajduk Split coach Gonzalo Garcia admitted that nervousness has set in following two consecutive defeats, including a heavy 0-4 loss to Pafos in the Europa League qualifiers and a 1-2 setback against Varaždin in the Croatian top flight. The team is preparing for a crucial away match against Žalgiris in Vilnius in the third qualifying round of the Conference League.

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Everyone is nervous when we lose. Especially in a club like Hajduk, where it gets loud as soon as you don't win. We have to focus, and tomorrow is a very important game for us. We have to enter it with a winner's mentality.

"Everyone is nervous when we lose. Especially in a club like Hajduk, where it gets loud as soon as you don't win. We have to focus, and tomorrow is a very important game for us. We have to enter it with a winner's mentality," Garcia stated. He stressed the urgency to secure a victory soon to alleviate the pressure on the squad.

Garcia also addressed the team's long-standing struggles in European away fixtures. "We came to Cyprus with a good result. We started thinking about advancing too early. We have to work on that," he said. He pointed out that Hajduk has not won an away game in Europe for six years, a streak the team is determined to end. "At home, we have the fans, but away it's more about the mental aspect. There's also the history of failures, so it gets harder every year. We hope to put an end to this streak tomorrow."

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At home, we have the fans, but away it's more about the mental aspect. There's also the history of failures, so it gets harder every year. We hope to put an end to this streak tomorrow.

The coach acknowledged that the artificial turf at the stadium in Vilnius could impact the game. "The fact that it will be played on artificial turf will surely affect the game. As a player, I didn't like playing on artificial turf. The ball travels faster and it's different in many ways. If we think about it too much, we can use it as an excuse. There are good and bad things. The ball goes too fast, but it will never bounce incorrectly. It could be good for us."

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The fact that it will be played on artificial turf will surely affect the game. As a player, I didn't like playing on artificial turf. The ball travels faster and it's different in many ways.