FK Kauno Žalgiris will take a 1-1 scoreline to Kosovo for the second leg of their UEFA Champions League first qualifying round tie against Drita, after the Lithuanian side were held at home by the Kosovo champions.
Head coach Željko Sopič felt his team created the clearer openings but did not make enough of the conditions. “It was a difficult match. I think we had the better chances to score and fly to Kosovo with a goal advantage, but that’s football,” he said. “In weather like this we need to put more balls into the penalty area. I missed that. In the rain anything can happen in the box.”
Despite the frustration of not taking a lead into the return, Sopič said he was encouraged by his side’s performance and pointed to the opponents’ recent European experience. “I have to say I’m satisfied with how we played,” he added. “Drita are a team that played in the Conference League last season, so it’s normal that in the future we will have to play better.”
Sopič said changes before the second leg would be limited, with a focus on sharpness for new arrivals who joined after seasons in other leagues had ended. “We can’t change too many things,” he said. “We can only improve the fitness of those players who missed training because they arrived here from other clubs, where the season has already finished.”
He also warned that small margins will decide the tie. “At this level, if you give opponents chances to attack your penalty area, you will suffer,” Sopič said. “I think at the end we lacked a bit of luck to score the second goal, but as I said, it’s only the first match.”
The second leg will be played on 14 July in Kosovo.
Source: https://zalgiris.lt/naujienos/z-sopicius-po-pirmuju-rungtyniu-su-drita-padarysime-viska-kad-laimetume-kitas-rungtynes
