Goal for the rematch with Sparta? We will stick to our style of play. We will try to score goals, we don’t intend to just defend, said Dinamo coach Jakirovic

Dinamo could celebrate an important home win over Sparta Prague on Thursday evening. Although the club had two mainstays and the coach leave shortly before the match, the team was well prepared and coped with the Prague team. What will Zagreb go into the rematch with?

Dinamo were within touching distance of qualifying for the Champions League play-offs on Saturday, but two late goals robbed them of that opportunity. It was clear that they would play Sparta next.

The latter didn’t really tune in to the game, drawing with Teplice at the weekend. Dinamo, on the other hand, lost Josip Šutal and Dominik Livaković, who moved abroad.

There was also a change of coach, but it didn’t affect Dinamo’s game too much. Sparta took the lead, but they stopped playing and eventually took back to Prague with a not so good result 1:3.

“We will analyze the whole match and prepare for the second half in Prague, it will be really difficult. We will face a full stadium and with the help of the spectators they will want to push us quickly.

Our goal is to build on the second half from Zagreb and we will stick to our style of play. We will try to score goals, we don’t intend to just defend,” Dinamo coach Sergej Jakirovic told a press conference.

He probably won’t be able to rely on Luka Ivanusec in the rematch, who scored 1+1 in the match and is heading to the Netherlands, specifically to Feyenoord, for whom Dávid Hancko is playing and Ondrej Lingr has also left.

“I’m still convincing him to stay, but in short we have to respect his decision. He is an excellent footballer, we will miss him. But we brought Luka Stojkovic, we have other wingers who have great potential and are yet to mature. Some new Ivanusec will come, as was the case a few years ago,” he added.

Dinamo will play a league game before the return leg, hosting Rijeka at home on Sunday. Sparta also plays on Sunday and at home, welcoming newcomer Karviná.

Source: UEFA Europa League