Guľa: Riga FC have shown they can compete at this level

Riga FC head coach Adrian Guľa believes his side are ready to turn encouraging performances into victories as they prepare to host Czech club Jablonec in the UEFA Conference League on Thursday. Despite the disappointment of losing the Latvian Virslīga title, the Slovakian coach insisted during Wednesday’s pre-match press conference that his players remain highly motivated to continue their historic European campaign and fight for a place in the knockout phase.

Riga FC have collected two points from their opening two Conference League matches, drawing against Kairat and Pafos. Although Guľa acknowledged the quality of both opponents, he believes his team have demonstrated that they belong at this level and now need to become more clinical in front of goal.

The Rīga head coach revealed that he had watched four Jablonec matches in preparation for Thursday’s encounter, describing the Czech side as experienced, pragmatic and tactically flexible. He highlighted their physical strength, dangerous set pieces and ability to adapt their formation depending on the opposition.

Guľa also suggested that the encounter could be less open than Riga’s previous European match against Pafos, explaining that Jablonec tend to defend compactly and restrict space. Nevertheless, he remains confident that his players can find a way to overcome their opponents.

The press conference also addressed Riga’s disappointing domestic campaign, which saw their title hopes end following a goalless draw against already-relegated Ogre United. Guľa admitted that losing the championship was painful but insisted that the failure could not be attributed to one particular result.

According to the coach, squad depth was a significant factor in Riga’s inability to maintain their title challenge while competing on multiple fronts. He explained that the team began the season with approximately 17 established players and that subsequent additions had not provided the expected improvement in quality and depth.

Guľa also pointed to the demanding schedule, with some players approaching 60 matches between March and November. Despite the disappointment, he congratulated RFS on winning the championship and praised his players for their commitment throughout the campaign.

With the Virslīga season approaching its conclusion, Riga will soon be able to concentrate on their remaining European fixtures and the Latvian Cup final against Auda on 20 November. However, Guľa admitted that managing the players’ workload would remain a challenge, particularly as their season began with preparations in January and could continue until December.

Guľa addresses uncertain future at Riga FC

Another major topic was Guľa’s future at the club, with his current contract set to expire on 30 November. The coach confirmed that there had been no developments regarding a potential extension but emphasised that his focus remained entirely on preparing the team for upcoming matches.

“For this moment, it’s a reality, 30 November, and I will do my best to win this game, next game, next game, and to say thank you very much and goodbye,” Guľa said.

The Slovakian also reflected positively on his nearly two years in charge, describing the experience as an important step in his coaching career. He revealed that he had received other opportunities, including an offer to coach a national team, but had chosen to remain committed to Riga FC.

Guľa insisted that he would continue giving his maximum effort regardless of whether his time at the club ends this month, expressing gratitude towards the players, supporters and club for the experience.

Siqueira believes Riga could have won both European matches

Riga midfielder Iago Siqueira shared his coach’s optimism, suggesting that the Latvian side could have collected more than two points from their opening Conference League fixtures.

“My feeling is we could have won both of the games, with full respect to both teams. Pafos, good club, Kairat also, but we had a good performance, really good performance,” Siqueira explained.

The Brazilian midfielder acknowledged that switching between domestic and European competitions was challenging but mentioned that playing in the Conference League had been a major objective for the squad, particularly after narrowly missing out on qualification last season.

Siqueira also dismissed concerns about Riga’s attacking confidence following the goalless draw against Ogre United. He pointed to Mohamed Badamosi’s impressive goalscoring record and insisted that the team’s recent struggles were more about small details and concentration than a lack of attacking quality.

Asked about his contractual situation, Siqueira clarified that reports suggesting his deal expires at the end of this year were incorrect. The midfielder confirmed that his contract runs until November 2027.