By Mantas Aliukonis
In the rain-swept shadows of Vilnius, as Hegelmann walked off with a dramatic 4–2 comeback win over Riteriai, head coach Andrius Skerla wore a conflicted expression. The scoreboard told one story—a convincing win. But for the veteran tactician, it was the opening chapters of the match that lingered.
“We can’t keep starting like this,” Skerla said, shaking his head. “Yes, we fought back, yes, we showed character—but we put ourselves in that hole. And that can’t keep happening.”
For a club that only a year ago was celebrating its first-ever A Lyga silver medals and reaching a second consecutive Lithuanian Cup final, expectations have changed. But so have the realities.
As quick out the gates as they are to stumble
On paper, Hegelmann remains one of the league’s most dangerous attacking sides. But through the first stretch of the 2024 campaign, they also rank among the worst defensively.
“We’ve had matches this year where we gave goals away cheaply,” Skerla admitted. “Against Sūduva, it wasn’t what they created—it was what we gifted them. At this level, that’s punished.”
The off-season saw key departures in defense—center-back Steve Kingue left for Poland’s Ekstraklasa, while left-back Hugo Figueredo moved to Banga. That reshuffling left holes not easily patched.
“Kingue and Samuel Odeoyibo were very different types of defenders from what we have now,” he noted. “Nikola Djorić is a totally different player. Every team goes through transitions, but some adapt quicker than others.”
Skerla has never been shy about his footballing philosophy. He’s an attacking coach at heart, someone who once said he’d play with three defenders if he had the personnel. But in this campaign, the ideology is meeting the edge of practicality.
“If you want to play proactively, if you want to press, to attack—you’re going to leave space,” he said. “But if we want to compete in Europe and keep pushing in the league, we need better balance. That starts with defending better as a unit.”
The problem, he explains, isn’t just tactical. It’s structural. Injuries and squad limitations have forced midfielders into central defense, full-backs into the middle, and experiments that don’t always work.
“Sometimes it clicks. Other times, it completely doesn’t,” he said. “We’re rotating a lot out of necessity, not strategy.”
Eyes on Europe, Feet in Reality
With European competition on the horizon, reinforcements would help. But budgets are tight.
“The budget isn’t made of rubber,” Skerla said with a wry smile. “We’ve built this team around what we could realistically afford. Of course we’d like one or two additions, especially at the back. But for now, we go with what we have.”
Still, there are bright spots. Serbian midfielder Lazar Kojić has emerged as a leader. Dutch defender Jonathan Mulder, returning from injury, has shown versatility and poise.
“Kojić is a fighter—that Serbian mentality,” said Skerla. “And Mulder gives us options. He can cover two positions, and when he’s fit, he’s a big asset in my system.”
Trusting the Locals
With national team selection looming, Skerla sees several of his Lithuanian players making a case.
“I won’t lobby anyone, but guys like Klaudijus Upstas, Domantas Antanavičius, and Vilius Armalas—they’re playing consistently, they’re leading on the pitch. That’s all you can ask.”
Upstas and Armalas, in particular, are seasoned figures—entering their sixth year together at Hegelmann. As the team prepares to face TransINVEST in the Lithuanian Cup, their influence will be crucial.
“In knockout matches, experience matters. These are the guys who hold the dressing room together.”
Respect for Rivals, Even in Crisis
While Hegelmann looks up the table, Skerla hasn’t lost sight of those fighting to stay in the league. Asked about struggling sides like Riteriai, he shows a measure of respect rarely seen in competitive circles.
“They’ve been in the league for years, had strong finishes, traditions. I really hope they make it through.”
As for Žalgiris, last year’s champions and now surprisingly adrift mid-table?
“It’s shocking, of course. But I don’t think it reflects their real quality. With all the injuries they’ve had—when you lose leaders like Giedrius Matulevičius—any team would struggle. I don’t believe this was their plan, but they’re adapting with youth. That’s not a flaw, that’s survival.”
The Road to the Cup
With TransINVEST on the immediate horizon, there’s little room for nostalgia. Despite being a First League side, Skerla refuses to underestimate the threat.
“They’re A Lyga quality, no doubt,” he warned. “If they were in the league today, I think they’d be mid-table. Maybe higher. We can’t look past this game.”
There’s no talk of finals, trophies, or fairy tales. Only the next 90 minutes.
Skerla is a coach caught between evolution and ambition. He’s building a team with limited tools, teaching it to dream big while learning hard lessons on the fly. For all the tactical tweaks, defensive drills, and rotations, one message remains constant:
“We have to defend better. That’s the priority. Because when we do—we’re a very dangerous team.”
Hegelmann FC are facing TransINVEST in Lithuanian Cup later today, at 19:00 Vilnius time.
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