The current season has become even more thrilling for Rijeka, as they are not only contending for the title but have also secured a spot in the Croatian Cup final under the guidance of Montenegrin coach Radomir Đalović.

The Rujevica-based team triumphed over Istra in the semifinals with a score of 1:0, maintaining their pursuit of both domestic trophies despite missing several players during the winter break.

“This represents a significant achievement for us—we’ve met one goal. I’d like to commend Istria for their performance, but my players demonstrated remarkable defensive skills, especially when the odds were against us,” Đalović noted during the press conference.

In response to a journalist who criticized Rijeka’s performance, the former “Falcon” striker defended his team’s effort.

“Was the game not satisfactory? If you win the Cup, does anyone really care about the semi-final’s performance against Istria? I don’t think so. In my view, they played exceptionally. They fought for each other, engaged in every duel, and put in tremendous effort. While I acknowledge there were areas to improve, they excelled as a team and made it to the final,” Đalović stated emphatically.

He continued in a similar tone…

“I am fully aware and realistic, especially considering that Koprivnica could have been ahead 3:0 after the first half-hour. Reaching the final is a remarkable achievement, mirroring last year’s success.”

Đalović also highlighted the many departures from Rijeka while they continue to vie with Hajduk at the top of the league.

“Just look at how many key players have left us—three of our best during the winter transfer window. When I took over, we lost Franjo Ivanović, now the top player in the Belgian league, Veldin Hodža, Marko Pašalić, who excels in MLS, and Ivan Smolčić, who’s now with Como, along with Niko Galešić to Dinamo… it’s easy to lose track of these changes.”

Focusing again on his current squad, he remarked,

“We have recruited seasoned players who bring a different style of play. I believe we’ve achieved a miraculous outcome in the Cup,” Đalović concluded.

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