Spaniard Oriol Riera is no longer the coach of Istria 1961, it was decided at a meeting of the leaders of the Pula club on Sunday, just one day after the home defeat (1-2) against Vukovar in 1991, when a large part of the audience at the Aldo Drosina stadium called for his departure.
It was clear that the Spanish expert had been losing his threads in the dressing room for a long time. Poor relationship with key playersprimarily with team leaders Stjepan Lončar and Josip Radošević, slowly poisoned the atmosphere, and the results only added fuel to the fire. Another defeat, this time unexpected at home against Vukovar in 1991, was just the last straw – confirmation that it was time to finally say goodbye to Istria in 1961.
This is, without a doubt, good news for former Široki players: Vinko Rozić and Stjepan Lončarwho, like many players from Istria, were used in the wrong way.
The quality of the mentioned players was never in doubt, and they confirmed that once again in the last round. Lončar found Rozić with a great action and assisted him for the goal against Vukovar.
Club director Sada Bjelanović has already announced that it is urgent is looking for a new coach in order to bring the season to an end as peacefully as possible. After a record autumn and third place in the half-season, the Puglia players want stability and a return to the right form, and the new specialist should bring better communication within the dressing room.
(www.jabuka.tv │ Photo: NK Istra)
