Bessone: We need to stay positive and restore confidence in our players

Our White and Blues face a league match against Lokomotiva at Maksimir on Sunday, November 1, at 6 PM. We defeated the same opponent 1-0 at Opus Arena in the first half of the season, and now an equally difficult task awaits us in Zagreb. At the press conference, head coach Federico Bessone first reflected on the previous match on home turf.

I must admit that after the match against Rudeš, I was sad and in a worse mood than usual, especially after watching the match again. We were not bad, we missed a lot of chances and then conceded a goal, which is something that sometimes happens. But what's done is done. The lads still have a positive attitude, they are working well and have taken all my criticism and suggestions on board, so we are going to Zagreb to win, Bessone stated.

The Osijek coach himself expected more from the home matches, but the lower points return has not shaken his confidence.

We made mistakes in previous matches as well, but the difference compared to those games is that we were scoring goals back then, whereas now, unfortunately, we are conceding them. Of course, I have to convince the players that we need to perform better than we did last weekend, but you know me – I am always positive. I am aware that we have to keep working, but the public also needs to understand that we have a very young team and that it is difficult to maintain a high level of performance consistently. There will continue to be ups and downs, as I told you even when we were winning, he said.

He explained that he had decided to show the players what they could and should build on in their performances.

I could have been sad and disappointed and told them what they did wrong on the pitch, but I decided to show them what was good and told them that they should continue playing that way in the next match, especially considering how we played in the second half against Rudeš. We need to stay positive and restore confidence in our players. That is how we will get to a victory.

Injuries have disrupted the rhythm

Unfortunately, there have also been quite a few injury problems, meaning that a larger number of first-team players are unavailable for selection.

Mikolčić has been struggling with ligament problems for a long time, Vrbančić suffered an unfortunate knock while playing for the national team, Jon Ježić has back problems, Dolček got injured during the warm-up in Sisak, Čaić had to undergo abdominal wall surgery, Hasić has a broken arm, while Bukvić hit his head against the ground and we will therefore have to give him a little more time to rest. I wondered whether I might be pushing them too hard in training, especially as they are still young, but the numbers show otherwise and I do not think that is the cause of the injuries. Maybe we are simply unlucky. We will see whether Dolček recovers in time for Sunday, while Vrbančić will definitely be unavailable.

Speaking about Sunday's opponents, Bessone highlighted that Lokomotiva are both a quality and unpredictable side.

They are an awkward opponent who adapt very well, changing their system both when they have possession and when they do not. They are good at pressing high and also at waiting for their chance on the counter-attack, as they showed in their match against Dinamo. We have prepared for all scenarios and hope for the best, he said.

"We definitely need patience"

The recent results have been below expectations, while the team is still taking shape. How much patience does it need?

The reality is that we have not collected as many points as we had hoped for during this run of home matches. Perhaps we deserved more, but I think we are now at a certain turning point. As you said, we definitely need patience. I am trying to find solutions to all the problems on the pitch. Against Rudeš, we were excellent in the first 15 minutes, and then it was as if we switched off. That is because we need consistency. The young lads are not yet able to maintain a high level of performance throughout the entire match, and that is exactly what we are working on. Of course, we have to be patient, although I understand that this is difficult for the fans, especially because I know what they have been through in recent seasons and that they might start thinking that we are going to struggle again. I want to change the mindset of both the fans and the players themselves, so that we can show our character on the pitch until the end and bring the fans back to the stands. But we all have to understand that this is a long-term process.

Izak Ježić has established himself as a regular first-team player, but what will happen when he has to leave for the U18 World Cup with the national team?

After all, it is a World Cup, and it is certainly a great opportunity for him. If I had had that opportunity as a player, I would also have asked my coach to let me play in such a competition. I know that we do not have many options in his defensive position, but we will have to think carefully about it.

"We are in a transitional period"

At the end, Bessone pointed out that football is generally viewed through the prism of results, but that objective circumstances must also be taken into account when assessing what can be achieved.

I have to say that we are in a transitional period. I am not a magician, but a coach who gives his players everything he knows and has. The fact is that after the international break, we no longer have such a clearly defined style of play, but we cannot compare the previous matches with those played in October. Before, we faced opponents who played with a high press, so we could react more quickly when looking for a way to goal. Now, however, Istra, Gorica and Rudeš have waited for us in a low block, and we have to completely change our way of playing. It is a process that takes time. Despite everything, I remain optimistic. The lads want to learn and take all my suggestions on board. I cannot promise where we will finish in the standings, but I will definitely give everything I have to make us as good as possible, Bessone concluded.