Spurs v Dinamo Zagreb Preview

Hello folks and welcome back to the Spurs v Dinamo Zagreb Preview.

It's raining here, good weather for frogs, of which I fortunately have some as the frog spawn in the pond once again testifies.

At least two adults, a youngster and a two inch long tiddler last summer.

Seeing one in the poolside rockery, the other side of the garden, sitting on a large pebble under an overhang or just seeing the water ripple as one swims is relaxing and clears your mind of any stress or anxiety.

Needed when you notice that some idiot has driven into the back of my Jag in a car park leaving two dents, cracked and scratched paintwork, plus damage to the two chrome strips inlaid into the bumper.

I always park well away from other cars and some idiot causes about £500+ of damage.

Fortunately, Spurs have re-found form and look a threat going forwards.

Tomorrow Tottenham take on Croatian side GNK Dinamo Zagreb and their Head Coach, Zoran Mamic, spoke to The National about the and meeting an in-form Gareth Bale again. 

Whenever his side is drawn against a Bale team, the Welshman seems to hit form.

“We were just speaking and joking the other day how Bale obviously waits when he will play against my coaching staff and me and then decides to play his best football."

Mamic was Al Ain manager, when the UAE champions met Real Madrid in the 2018 Fifa Club World Cup final in Abu Dhabi.

Days before, Bale hit hat-trick in the 3-0 semi-final victory against Kashima Antlers and won the best player of the tournament award.

Bale has returned to strong form once more, soring twice for Spurs in the Premier League on Sunday against Crystal Palace.

He now has six goals and three assists in his last six matches.

“What can you say about a player of his quality?” Mamic says. 

“When he is in good shape like he is at the moment, he is almost unstoppable, and we will have to try to find a way to manage him. Actually, if you have any idea or advice, please let me know.”

The Croatian champions in 14 of the past 15 seasons, are again at the top of the top of the table, and last week qualified for the semi-finals of the Croatian Cup. 

In the Europa League, Dinamo are unbeaten, winning seven of their nine matches.

Mamic returned to Dinamo Zagreb in June 2019, as Sporting Director, after three years in the Gulf.

He became Dinamo's permanent manager last July for a second time.

Mamic  has since overseen a stellar 2020/21 season in which his side have lost only four times in 37 matches, one being the UEFA Champions League play-off to Hungarian side Ferencvaros.

 “I was a sporting director before becoming a coach, so it wasn’t a new territory for me. The situation with Covid-19 resulted in the club parting ways with the former coach – after that things didn’t work out like we hoped and I took the responsibility also as the head coach.

“At the start the team was a bit down despite that we had won the league title and it wasn’t easy to get to the top level. But we believed in them 100 per cent and I was certain this team has amazing potential and quality. With time we created this great chemistry and wins came as a result.”

Dinamo have won 18 of their past 22 matches, finishing top of a Europa League group that included CSKA Moscow and Feyenoord. 

They set a Europa League record by not conceding a goal in their opening five matches.

Dinamo won both legs against Russian side Krasnodar to go through 4-2 on aggregate.

Dinamo Zagreb have won eight straight matches, seven of which were with clean sheets.

Statistics we fans should take a note of, clearly they are well organised defensively and we know how skilful Croatians can be.

Amongst the UEL group stage survivors, Dinamo Zagreb have conceded the fewest number goals in the competition (three).

Tottenham are second favourites with the bookies and Mamic acknowledges his side “did not get lucky in the draw”.

Spurs have won four straight matches, securing the lead before the 30th minute in all of those fixtures and scoring exactly four goals in each of the three home matches.

“The team has amazing confidence at the moment. With the same spirit we will enter the games against Tottenham. They are a big team with amazing players, but my team plays for the win in every game.”

“As a sports person it is always interesting to test yourself against the best.

“We will play against the best players, a great coach and in an amazing stadium, so it will be a nice experience. Of course, despite all that and with all due respect to Tottenham, we will be playing to win. Just like in any other match.”

The clubs’ only previous meeting, in the Europa League in 2008, Tottenham triumphed 4-0 at White Hart Lane; a young Bale, incidentally, playing at left-back.

“Of course a lot of things have changed since then; they don’t even play on the same stadium. Every season they invest a lot of money, [chairman] Mr [Daniel] Levy is leading the club with great vision and play and everyone can see that. The club has grown in so many ways in the last decade, but so has Dinamo.”

“It is great to test yourself against the best, and Jose Mourinho is definitely one of the best coaches in the world in the last decade or more. He won so many trophies with several clubs and he earned his respect from everyone, including me. His teams always play tactically near to perfect, with a lot of energy and great pace, so it’s nice to watch them.

“He plays similar football now in Tottenham, and especially they look good in the last few weeks with a lot of power. It will be interesting to play against him, and it would be especially interesting to beat him.”

“To be on the level Jose Mourinho is, you have to respect every opponent and treat every game as the most important one”.

“Obviously, to be in the Europa league last 16 is already a great achievement, but I have a feeling we have more to say in this competition. I have enormous confidence in my team and my players, and it would be very nice to accomplish the 'North London Double', as you’ve called it, having previously beaten Arsenal.”

Enjoy the game.