Hajduk Split coach blames quality, not mentality, for Europa League exit

Hajduk Split's Europa League aspirations were dashed after a dramatic 4-0 defeat to Cypriot side Pafos in extra time, overturning a 2-0 first-leg lead. The Croatian club's coach, Gonzalo Garcia, lamented the loss, emphasizing that the outcome was not due to a lack of mentality but rather the opponent's superior quality and pace.

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This is not a matter of mentality. Pafos is a quality, fast team. The reality is that Pafos is a very high-quality and experienced team.

"This is not a matter of mentality. Pafos is a quality, fast team. The reality is that Pafos is a very high-quality and experienced team," Garcia stated. He acknowledged that despite playing an excellent first match, Hajduk struggled to impose themselves, particularly when in possession. "When we had the ball, we weren't good," he admitted.

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When we had the ball, we weren't good.

The coach pointed to specific challenges, including player injuries and a lack of focus and aggression. "We weren't focused, we didn't pass, we weren't aggressive," Garcia explained. He conceded that while the team was close to advancing, they needed to perform at their absolute maximum against such strong opposition. Hajduk now shifts its focus to the domestic league, facing Varaždin next.

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We weren't focused, we didn't pass, we weren't aggressive.