FK Kauno Žalgiris face one of their biggest matches of the season on Tuesday as the Lithuanian champions take on Kosovo champions Drita in the second leg of their UEFA Champions League first qualifying round tie, with a place in the next stage at stake.
The first meeting at Darius and Girėnas Stadium in Kaunas ended in a 1-1 draw, leaving the tie finely balanced ahead of the return leg.
On the eve of the match, FK Kauno Žalgiris held their final training session at Fadil Vokrri Stadium in Prishtina. Prior to training, head coach Željko Sopić addressed the media at the pre-match press conference.
“Both teams have an equal chance of winning and progressing to the next round. The most important thing for us is to stay focused. The draw in Kaunas is neither a good nor a bad result because the away goals rule no longer exists. We have 90 minutes ahead of us, and the better team will go through. Our recent 3-0 victory has also given us extra confidence,” said the Croatian coach.
Reflecting on the first leg, Sopić acknowledged the demanding schedule and the limited time he has had to implement his ideas since taking charge, but stressed that he is pleased with the team’s progress.
“I’ve only been here for two weeks, and we’ve been playing every few days. There have been positives and negatives, but that’s normal whenever a new coach arrives. The players need time to adapt to a new system and new demands, but I’m very optimistic. We will keep improving every single day,” he said.
According to the Kauno Žalgiris manager, Tuesday’s encounter could look very different from the first meeting, particularly in terms of Drita’s approach.
“I’m from the Balkans, so I know the mentality very well. They will come onto the pitch full of confidence and determination from the very first minute. They may press us more aggressively than they did in Kaunas, but we’re prepared for that,” Sopić added.
Source: https://zalgiris.lt/naujienos/z-sopicius-pries-dvikova-kosove-abi-komandos-turi-vienodus-sansus
