The Green-Whites face the final eternal derby of the current season this Saturday at 8:15 PM. In anticipation of the 34th round of Prva Liga Telemach, head coach Federico Bessone addressed the media. He and the Dragons are chasing a European spot as the 2025/26 competitive year draws to a close.
Before the match at Ljudski Vrt, Bessone stated: “We will wait for Bravo to slip up, and then we must do our part in the derby. Things haven’t gone our way in recent weeks. We should have beaten Koper, but we lost. We should have won in Celje, but we lost. On the other hand, our European rivals have been picking up points. I know we haven’t had the results, but the team is progressing, competing, and creating chances. I would be worried if there were more performances like the one against Mura, where we didn’t even get a shot on goal. That was my responsibility. Later, we could have celebrated in all our matches.”
“Even if there are no more chances for Europe, we must win the derby. If we stay alive for Europe, all the better, but we must win for our own sake. I don’t accept any other scenario; the players are professionals. The situation is what it is, we have to try our best and win the derby. I know what professional football is like. As soon as you lose three games, you’re under pressure. But I feel the support of the management; they believe in what I’m doing, and that’s the most important thing. Clearly, if we lose everything until the end of the season and they bring in a new coach – ‘fair play’, as a coach you have to deliver results, and I am aware of that.”
“At the moment, Doffo is struggling with an injury, which is why he isn’t regularly with us. The reason is not that his contract is expiring. The club respects him maximally. If he’s not in the squad, it will be because he’s injured. The same applies to Alex Blanco. Jasmin Kurtić also has some issues, but I hope he will be ready for the match. We are counting on all the players who are here, even if their contracts are expiring.”
