Bessone Ahead of Hajduk: No Euphoria, but Belief in What We Are Doing

 

Three consecutive victories have brought a positive atmosphere back into the Osijek dressing room, but Federico Bessone does not want that to turn into euphoria. The White and Blues will face Hajduk at Poljud on Sunday (9 p.m.), an opponent whom the Osijek coach has great respect for, while at the same time believing that his team can show its true worth in Split.

This is a good moment to go to Split, but that doesn’t mean it will be an easy match. I watched Hajduk and they are a very good team. Maybe they are more focused on Europe at the moment, but that doesn’t change anything for us. If we want to achieve a good result, we have to continue doing good work, Bessone said.

After victories over Gorica, Rudeš and Lokomotiva, Osijek have found consistency, and the coach also reflected on the comments that followed the first two wins.

We have shown in three matches that this team has character. I heard that after our wins against Gorica and Rudeš, people were saying that those teams would be fighting to avoid relegation. Lokomotiva certainly belong to the upper half of the table, so we also played very well against them. We will try to repeat that in Split.

“We Will Have the Same Approach as Before”

Bessone does not plan to change his approach because of the name of the opponent. On the contrary, he will demand the same courage and aggression from his players that they have shown so far.

We will have the same approach as against Lokomotiva. If we go to Split and don’t press, we will concede and lose. We are going there to play and take risks because we really have nothing to lose. The team has shown character and will be ready.

One of the key messages ahead of the remainder of the season is that the team must continue developing through hard work, regardless of potential departures. Bessone confirmed that there has been interest in some White and Blues’ first-team players, but at the moment he is much more pleased with their attitude towards the Club and their daily work.

It is true that we received some offers this summer, but those players are showing that they want to stay. They are enjoying themselves, playing very well and working hard despite everything. That is the most important thing for me. That is what I want to focus on, rather than how they might potentially leave. I am aware that this scenario is possible as well, and we will see what happens by the end of the transfer window. But those players are still here, and that is the most important thing for me at the moment.

The Players Like This Way of Working

All players are currently available, and the NK Osijek head coach believes that will remain the case after the final training session ahead of the trip to Dalmatia. Bessone places particular emphasis on preparing for each match, and the game against Hajduk will be no exception.

As a coach, I like to prepare differently for every match. I want to give the players the right information so they can adapt to the opponent as well as possible. Yesterday and today, we have been preparing specifically for that, which is why I am so tired today. We will be ready.

He also spoke positively about the energy the team is showing, pointing out that his view of the match against Lokomotiva would not have changed even if Osijek had failed to score the winning goal in the closing stages.

What if we hadn’t scored in the 90th minute against Lokomotiva? We would have said that we had taken seven points from nine. We were brilliant, we didn’t allow them anything, we created a huge number of chances, but the ball just didn’t want to go in. The most important thing is that we have good energy and good preparation. I am happy when I see the energy on the pitch and when I see how much the players enjoy this way of working. That is why we have won three matches, but it is no secret that we want to continue.

It Is a Pleasure to Play in Front of a Full Stadium

In Split, it is clear that particular attention will be focused on Marko Livaja. Bessone also received information from his staff about how many times the Hajduk striker has scored against Osijek, and he is fully aware of his quality and influence on Hajduk’s play.

Jugović told me how many times he has scored against us, and we have to change that. Livaja has been proving for years that he is a top player and he still makes a difference on the pitch. But it is not just Livaja. Hajduk have excellent players in every position. We have to stay close to Livaja, not allow him time to think or feel comfortable on the pitch.

The big stadium and atmosphere at Poljud represent additional motivation rather than pressure for our head coach. He once again emphasised how much he has always enjoyed playing in front of full stands.

I like challenges, especially the way we are looking forward to this match. As a player, I enjoyed playing in a full stadium, and I enjoy it as a coach as well. I repeat, we have nothing to lose in Split, quite the opposite. We will give everything we have, be good in the press without the ball, show character with the ball and, hopefully, achieve a good result.

Without making any big promises, but with faith in the work and what the team has shown recently, Bessone ended the press conference with a short and clear message in Croatian:

Idemo po pobjedu.