Žalgiris coach sees positives despite heavy loss to Hajduk Split

Vilnius "Žalgiris" suffered a significant 2-5 defeat at home against Croatia's Hajduk Split in the first leg of their UEFA Europa Conference League qualifying match. The Croatian vice-champions demonstrated their attacking prowess early, scoring in the fifth minute via a penalty converted by Michele Šego after a foul by Jurijus Kendyš.

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Thank you to the fans who attended the stadium in large numbers. It was a difficult game for us, but the fans were loud and supported us until the last minute.

Nikola Petkovič's goal in the 35th minute brought Žalgiris back into the game, leveling the score at 1-1 before halftime. However, the second half saw Hajduk Split score three more goals within 19 minutes, effectively crushing any hopes of a comeback for the Lithuanian side. A spectacular long-range shot by Žalgiris's Croatian player Marko Čapan narrowed the scoreline to 2-5, offering a small consolation.

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We met a strong opponent who revealed the differences in skill: technique, speed, decision-making. We are not their equals in these aspects, and they scored many beautiful goals.

Despite the heavy loss, Žalgiris coach Andrius Skerla acknowledged the skill difference between the teams, citing Hajduk's superior technique, speed, and decision-making. "We are not their equals in terms of technique, speed, and decision-making," Skerla stated. He also praised the home crowd for their unwavering support throughout the match.

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A big, painful result not in our favor, but overall, I saw positive things. We didn't just defend; we created chances and scored two goals, but we conceded too many in defense.

Skerla, however, also pointed out positive elements, noting that his team created chances and scored two goals, although he admitted that the defense conceded too many. "We made many mistakes, and we need to avoid them," he said, emphasizing that while they could play more defensively, it contradicts his coaching philosophy. The team now faces a considerable three-goal deficit to overcome in the second leg in Split.

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You saw the match; I believe we could have played better, but we cannot rely solely on luck. Hajduk showed their strength. We made mistakes early in the match; two penalties were awarded against us, one the goalkeeper saved.