Varaždin manager Šafarić laments late collapse against Hajduk Split

Source reporting: 18 October 2026. Added to ScoreTransfer on the publication date shown above.

NK Varaždin manager Nikola Šafarić did not hide his disappointment regarding the manner in which his team lost a point during their away fixture at Poljud stadium. The result prevented Šafarić's squad from further confirming their status as contenders for European qualification spots this season.

Varaždin maintained a solid defensive structure for the majority of the match, effectively limiting the opposition's opportunities. However, the game turned in the final moments when Acapandie scored following a corner kick delivered by Bamba. Šafarić acknowledged that while Hajduk Split had few solutions throughout the contest, a single moment of deconcentration proved costly for his side.

Despite the defensive resilience shown for most of the ninety minutes, the manager felt his team could have been more adventurous in the attacking third. He pointed to a missed opportunity by Tavares as an example of where greater decisiveness with the ball was required. Šafarić emphasized that the squad must learn from this experience to improve their forward play in future matches.

Addressing tactical questions about marking Hajduk's forwards, Šafarić commented on the differences between Livaja and Michele Šego. He noted that Livaja prefers duels while Šego attacks space behind the defense. The manager concluded that it is advantageous for Varaždin that these two players do not feature simultaneously, as denying depth simplifies the defensive task against Hajduk.