Kauno Žalgiris prepare for historic Brighton debut

Kauno Žalgiris have arrived in Brighton ahead of their first match in the main phase of a UEFA competition. Željko Sopić’s side face Brighton in the Conference League on Thursday evening, with kick-off scheduled for 22:00 and the match to be shown live on TV6.

“We are very happy to be here and it will be an honour to take the pitch against Brighton,” Sopić said to club media. “I have watched a few of their recent matches, but anything can happen in football. We will give everything and see where we are at the end of the day.”

The Kaunas club lifted the Lithuanian Cup at the weekend, but Sopić said celebrations were brief with four difficult fixtures ahead: matches against Brighton and Brann in Europe, followed by league games against Sūduva and Vilnius Žalgiris. He said the league remained important, with only four matches left in the season.

Sopić recalled Kauno Žalgiris’ summer win over Beşiktaş, when, he said, few gave his team a chance. He described his side as an underdog in the Conference League and said they had prepared well for the trip to England.

The coach said the team would adapt some aspects of its approach against stronger opponents, but would not abandon its principles. Changing the style every few days, he added, would risk undermining the team’s league performances.

Midfielder Vykintas Slivka, who joined the club in the summer, said the fixture would be a special occasion. He acknowledged Brighton’s strong form in the Premier League and said Kauno Žalgiris would need to be ready for the hosts’ intensity.

“We know we are underdogs, but this is football and you never know what can happen,” Slivka said. “We will give everything and aim for the best possible result.”

Source: zalgiris.lt