After two draws and a defeat, Hajduk got its first victory in the summer preparations. At the NK Brava stadium in Ljubljana, Ivan Leka’s team defeated the new Hungarian first league team MTK with a 3-1 reversal.
That result actually hides what was happening on the field because they were the inferior team for an hour and were losing from the 34th minute. And then he entered the scene Marko Livaja as a joker from the bench and brought victory with an assist for the debut of Leon Dayaku, and then with two goals.
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Coach Ivan Leko was quite critical.
– It is better to win 3-1 than to lose 0-1. Simple, like that. Again, preparations are important, how we look, how the game is played, what is seen, what is the progress, what are the things to fix. Today, for example, was worse for me than against Olimpia. I was much more satisfied with the game against Olimpija, especially that team which should be the starter’s gro. This was not good for me today – said the coach of Hajduk and continued:
– The first half is slow, sluggish, soft in the defensive phase, a lot of shots are allowed, a lot of running back. It’s always a step back. That’s how it should be said, I’m commenting on that openly. On the other hand, an excellent reaction from the guys on the bench, young, hungry, thirsty. On that side, it’s very good. After the game, I talk to everyone, if the game is tomorrow, you don’t know who to start with. Those who were supposed to start were worse, and those who weren’t supposed to start were better.
The teams lack healthy competition in training, he believes.
– We often say, if there is no competition in training, then you know what will happen in the match. Maybe that comfort zone factor, I never liked it, you always try to avoid it. This is certainly a good thing that is happening, in any case it is important to win, more for the sake of the situation around the club. It is for us to learn, to see. We have a lot to learn and see from this match.
Why did the first team look so bad, is it physical fatigue or psychology?
– Physics is not, they do physics. We don’t kill, as there are some coaches who say they killed. We don’t kill, we work normally on physics, but we also want to be in good shape quickly and ready to win matches. It must be psychology, a mental thing, hunger, comfort zone. It could be a blow, there’s sure to be. It wouldn’t be normal if we were fresh and light, but it’s certainly not a matter of physics – he said.
Is the first team’s alibi the heat because the start was at 5:30 p.m.?
– It’s safe. It was a dry field, both for us and for the opponent. But we are looking here, that every three minutes a shot on goal is… Simply too soft. Every refuser gets an opponent. It is then a matter of state of mind, state of head, state of desire. These guys came who are aggressive, that’s how they play. Maybe they go a little too hard, but good. Feel, you have to answer that and I didn’t like that. Still in the attack, come on, I can understand that, but I can’t allow ten shots from the penalty area in the first half.
The victory was brought by Marko Livaja. It obviously doesn’t work without him.
– I’m not hiding it. I told you that I am building a team around Marko Livaja. I don’t hide it and I don’t lie that this is collective, everyone is good and the same. No, for us, Marko Livaja is the best player, a key player, and we are building a team around Marko Livaja. This is Marko Livaja, this is crucial. And then he helps the others, they run, you give him and open up space and then everyone is good. Then Roko Brajković is good, Leon Dajaku is also great, then little Lauš is also good, then Ćube is also good… We do not hide that we are building this team around Marko Livaja.
But he will not be in the Super Cup against Dinamo in ten days due to suspension. This is a big problem for Hajduk.
– That’s right, but that’s an opportunity for others and us. That’s why we train and try something. It is a huge handicap, we all know that we are not the same with Marko and without him. But this does not mean that we will take off our underpants and make an excuse, like there is no Mark, so it’s OK. We certainly won’t! But it’s absolutely missing…
In terms of tactical preparation, how much does it bother you that Capan has to play right back and Ćubelić a stopper?
– And it bothers a lot, a lot. You won’t whine and cry, but you are here for three weeks and when they have to be there in sparring for six days in training, they have to play some matches there. Guys who are neither guilty nor obligated have to play it. I’m glad that they were really open and playing well. The fact that little Ćube is playing these two or three games is better than some real stoppers. But, let’s not lie, here it is. We keep quiet, we work with what we have, we try. The situation is not ideal in other clubs either, we are in the third week.
He went on about reinforcements and then stopped…
– Three, four positions are missing for sure… Basically, I won’t say the number anymore, am I? There are no numbers because it will turn out to be a circus. It is, as it is. Maybe we have changed now, we are silent, we work, we try to always look positively, but also to be critical when it is time for criticism. Don’t lie to people. We all have intelligence, you are watching, the fans are watching, we are watching. We can’t pretend to be fools and deceive people – concluded Leko.
One of the players who lost in the second part is Tino Blaž Lauš (22), a midfielder who joined after a loan in Velež.
– The first half was perhaps a little harder, it started at 5:30 p.m. and the sun was out… It was a tough game, but in the second half it was much more open, with many more chances. We scored three goals and we are satisfied with the victory. First win. We are eager to win in friendly matches as well – said Lauš.
It turned out that the reserves showed more than the nominal first team.
– I don’t know, I didn’t really look at it that way. But it can be. Maybe that’s the reason why we won, maybe we want to prove ourselves a little more, us young people – added the Hajduk player.
Where does he feel best?
– My favorite is eight, box to box, to go up and down. I can run a lot and that’s how I can emphasize myself, in defense and attack. No eight here? There is, there is everything. It looks like that on paper, but on the field it is completely different, the coach adjusts it. Not a problem at all.
What would satisfy him this season?
– I’m going step by step. I’m happy that I’m in training, but I’m not, I want to progress further, collect as many appearances as possible for Hajduk. The goal may be to be in the lineup at all. We’ll see, slowly. My goal is to do the best I can in every training session, to prove myself to the coach, so we’ll see. I will not go much ahead – concluded Lauš modestly.