Dalić arrived in Manchester in the company of the technical director of the A and U-21 national team, Stipe Pletikosa, and members of his staff, assistant Vedran Ćorluka and fitness trainer Luka Milanović. The Croatian delegation attended the Premier League derby between Manchester City and Arsenal on Sunday, after which they met with the Croatian duo, Kovacic and Guardiola, and discussed their recovery from injury and the upcoming FIFA World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the USA.
A day later, the Croatian delegation was hosted by City coach Pep Guardiola in his office in Manchester City’s training center, with whom coach Dalić and his colleagues discussed the status of the Croatian national team members and their condition after serious injuries. Mateo Kovačić recently returned to the field after a long absence, while Joško Guardiol is in the recovery phase, which is proceeding according to the planned program.
“I thank my colleague Guardiola for his time and warm welcome in his office, it was a pleasure to share thoughts about football, team preparation and the challenges of coaching with one of the best and most successful coaches of all time. It is a pleasure to hear him speak with great respect about Croatian football and everything that the Croatian national team has achieved in recent years. We congratulated him on his success in the important game against Arsenal and wished him success in the uncertain race for the championship title, primarily of course because of our duo in the ranks of City. It’s nice to hear with how much respect Guardiola speaks about the playing skills, but also the human qualities of Mateo and Joško, we are glad that they have such a status in one of the best clubs in the world. it’s nice to see them smiling and cheerful. I’m happy that they are very optimistic, I feel that they are ready to help the national team at the WC, and at the same time contribute to City at the end of the season, especially Mateo who is already competing for the team. I wish them only health, Mateo a good minute, and Joško a successful recovery,” said coach Zlatko Dalić.
On that occasion, the delegation of the Federation and the national team presented Guardiola with a personalized jersey with the number four, as well as a specially designed chess.
(Vijesti.ba)
