Hajduk Split Jamu Zilina pada Kualifikasi Liga Eropa di Poljud

Klub Kroasia Hajduk Split menjamu wakil Slovakia Zilina dalam laga leg pertama kualifikasi babak pertama Liga Eropa di Stadion Poljud pada Kamis malam, 9 Juli 2026. Pertandingan ini menjadi pertemuan pertama kedua tim sejak tahun 2009 silam.

Hajduk Split, yang kini dilatih oleh Gonzalo Garcia, berusaha mengamankan modal penting sebelum melakoni leg kedua di Slovakia pekan depan. Tuan rumah datang dengan modal positif setelah memenangi tiga laga uji coba pramusim tanpa kebobolan.

Sebaliknya, Zilina yang dipimpin oleh manajer Pavol Stano bermodalkan hasil kurang memuaskan setelah tanpa kemenangan dalam empat laga pramusim terakhirnya. Tim tamu mengandalkan skuad muda yang memiliki kekuatan fisik dan daya jelajah tinggi.

Penyerang Hajduk Split, Michele Sego, menyatakan kesiapan timnya untuk menghadapi tekanan dan mengincar kemenangan demi mengubah rekor buruk pertemuan masa lalu dengan Zilina.

"God willing. We'll see. Every player who plays sports has a hunch…" ujar Michele Sego, Striker Hajduk Split.

Sego menambahkan bahwa dirinya merasa dalam kondisi yang baik meskipun enggan sesumbar mengenai jumlah gol yang akan dicetak pada pertandingan pembuka ini.

"Well, I don't know, I feel good, so I wouldn't want to announce anything too much. We'll see tomorrow. Overall, it feels good, so we'll see. This is the first game, and it's the hardest." kata Michele Sego, Striker Hajduk Split.

Mengenai target hasil pertandingan, penyerang yang mencetak 13 gol pada musim lalu tersebut menegaskan komitmen seluruh elemen tim untuk memberikan performa maksimal.

"We're going to do our best, we've prepared well and that's it." tutur Michele Sego, Striker Hajduk Split.

Hajduk Split tercatat memiliki rekor kurang apik saat bersua Zilina maupun klub Slovakia lain seperti Ruzomberok dalam beberapa tahun terakhir.

"That's why we're here, to change that." tegas Michele Sego, Striker Hajduk Split.

Terkait identitas permainan Hajduk di musim baru, Sego menjelaskan instruksi dari jajaran pelatih untuk menerapkan kedisiplinan dan energi tinggi sejak awal laga.

"That's what the coach asked us to do from the beginning – to press high up, to have energy for the entire game or as long as possible. I think we're on track for that and we'll show it tomorrow, and I hope we'll present ourselves that way throughout the season." papar Michele Sego, Striker Hajduk Split.

Zilina dinilai memiliki keunggulan karena komposisi skuadnya tidak banyak berubah dibandingkan musim lalu, serta memiliki pemain muda bertenaga.

"Of course not. What you said, we analyzed them and we know that they've been together for a while, that they're a fairly young team and that they're powerful in terms of racing. But, you said it yourself, they've already beaten us once, so let's go get revenge." ungkap Michele Sego, Striker Hajduk Split.

Sego memastikan dinamika atau kejadian di luar lapangan tidak memengaruhi fokus para pemain di ruang ganti menjelang pertandingan penting ini.

"Honestly, nothing has affected me, nor any of us. We are professionals, everything is communicated in the club. We can only focus on the field and that is our only task." jelas Michele Sego, Striker Hajduk Split.

Sejarah panjang dan tekanan besar dari para pendukung justru dijadikan motivasi tambahan bagi internal tim untuk lolos ke fase berikutnya.

"In general, and because of history, it's certainly a motivation for us. We know the pressure around the club, but I think we took that as motivation and that's it." sebut Michele Sego, Striker Hajduk Split.

Meskipun kompetisi domestik baru akan bergulir tiga minggu lagi, Sego merasa tingkat kebugaran fisik para pemain sudah sangat siap berkat porsi latihan keras.

"We are generally satisfied with the physical fitness. We trained a lot harder than last preparation, so I think we are ready to welcome the new season." kata Michele Sego, Striker Hajduk Split.

Mengenai fleksibilitas posisinya di lini depan, Sego mengaku tidak masalah ditempatkan sebagai penyerang tengah maupun pemain sayap.

"Honestly, I can play all three positions up front. But I think I'm kind of at my best at the point guard, that's something I played through the academy. So, let's say that's the position, but I don't have a problem playing all three positions up front." jelas Michele Sego, Striker Hajduk Split.

Sementara itu, pelatih kepala Gonzalo Garcia memberikan pembaruan mengenai kembalinya bomber andalan Marko Livaja ke dalam aktivitas tim utama.

"First of all, I'm glad to see you. Yes, Marko has returned to the team in the last few days. The rest of the information is provided by the club. As for who's playing, as always, I never talk too much about it, so I'll stick to that." ujar Gonzalo Garcia, Pelatih Hajduk Split.

Garcia menambahkan bahwa timnya saat ini masih dalam proses pembangunan skuad seiring keluar masuknya beberapa pemain di bursa transfer.

"Look, we're in a building phase, that's for sure. We've signed a few players right now, some have left, some new ones are coming in. We're still building.

But what I can say is that the team has been training very well, I mean better than last preseason, stronger, and the chemistry is good. They have energy, they feel good with each other, they push each other and they work to improve." urai Gonzalo Garcia, Pelatih Hajduk Split.

Ketika ditanya mengenai peluang Hajduk Split untuk menjadi juara di kompetisi musim ini, Garcia menegaskan fokusnya adalah membangun mentalitas pemenang laga demi laga.

"We don't have that many, we work according to our capabilities and communicate. As for the second question, it's a typical question… Yes, we will fight to win every game, as we always do. First we have to build a team, a strong team, a strong mentality, a strong chemistry among the players who are here, and we'll see about the rest." pungkas Gonzalo Garcia, Pelatih Hajduk Split.

Garcia juga memberikan analisisnya terkait kekuatan Zilina yang dianggapnya sebagai tim yang agresif namun juga memiliki celah di lini pertahanan.

"Yes, it's a strong team, a physically powerful team, a team that presses a lot, they score goals, but they also concede them. They have young players, talented players, players who will continue to grow. It will definitely be a challenging game for us.

But okay, we are prepared for it, so we will see. It will" tambah Gonzalo Garcia, Pelatih Hajduk Split.

Hajduk Split dipastikan tampil tanpa Abdoulie Sanyang yang terkena skorsing kartu merah dari kompetisi Eropa musim lalu, namun dapat menurunkan para pemain baru seperti Alec Van Hoorenbeeck dan Mathieu Acapandie.