Gattuso: My future is Hajduk Split
Gorica and Hajduk will play a match of the 16th round of SuperSport HNL on Saturday from 17:30 in Velika Gorica. The duel brings the clash of the first and last team in the ranking.
Hajduk comes after a victory against Dinamo in the biggest Croatian derby, while Gorica lost to Rijeka in the last round. The match was announced at the press conference by Hajduk’s coach, Gennaro Gattuso.
About celebrating the victory against Dinamo and pizza:
“The pizza was good. But the concentration is on the tactics for tomorrow, which will be tough. If it goes wrong, we’ll throw away everything we’ve done well. A difficult field awaits us and I am not looking for any alibi, there are no complaints about the field or the pumped balls. I’m looking for maximum concentration.”
About the future in Hajduk:
“My future is Hajduk Split. My head is here and I’m only thinking about the match against Gorica. Fear has no place in sports. We all have to be at 110 percent tomorrow. We must be a team and those who are most ready must play. We will test well tomorrow and I am curious to see what we can do.”
Will he shave his beard?
“I should have shaved my beard yesterday, but it’s Božo’s fault because we were taking a photo, and I wanted to be in the photo with a beard. So I’m going to shave for another week.”
Preparation for Gorica:
“We don’t look at the table. I am worried about how Gorica plays at home. Our approach must always be the same. Gorica won 12 points at home. We always prepare our matches in the same way and we are aware of the positions from which they can put us in trouble.”
Motivation against different opponents:
“I encourage the players to prepare themselves mentally. When we play with Dinamo, it’s not difficult. But we must not underestimate the opponent in Gorica. We have to be compact, close and cover each other’s positions. Varaždin spread us too far. We have to hold the field.”
About players with two accumulated yellow cards:
“The players have to play to the maximum, we don’t look at the cards and I want everyone to be at one hundred percent. That’s how we play every game.”
Comment on the punishment of Lindon Selahi:
“It is a matter for the judges and the commission. I won’t comment on that. I work as a coach and that’s enough for me to be busy all day. The most important thing now is that the best 11 players run against Gorica.”
About the potential surprises of Gorica:
“Since Mario Carević came, Gorica wants to compete. We have to be a big Hajduk if we want to take three points. They are quick and lively, but they are not physically at our level.”
Will there be player rewards for Christmas?
“There will be something. You will see everything.”
