Dinamo suffered a 1-0 defeat in their match against Rudeš, further shaking the position of manager Marijo Kovačević. According to Index, there is significant dissatisfaction within the club regarding the team's recent results and performances, and Kovačević was already under serious pressure before this encounter.
The final decision on Kovačević's future could be made as early as tonight, with official confirmation expected tomorrow. All signals point towards a termination of cooperation, although the dismissal has not yet been confirmed. Dinamo president Zvonimir Boban is expected to make the final decision. The dismissal was being considered even before the defeat to Rudeš, and the club had previously planned a thorough analysis of the manager's work and the team's results. This analysis was scheduled to take place during the upcoming international break, or at the latest during the winter pause. However, the loss to Rudeš has accelerated the entire process.
Kovačević's future was uncertain even before the match with Rudeš, and the club is dissatisfied with both the results and the manner in which the team plays. With the defeat to Rudeš, Dinamo remains on 22 points, four behind leaders Hajduk, with a game in hand. The team has failed to find continuity in good results and performances.
In the event of Kovačević's dismissal, Dinamo may opt for an interim solution while the board works on finding a long-term successor. Jerko Leko is one of the candidates for the interim role. Leko could take charge of the first team until the next break. Someone else within the club with a similar profile is also being considered.
After the defeat to Rudeš, Kovačević admitted on the press conference that his team had played poorly and accepted responsibility for the result. He stated: "I fully understand the fans after today's match. If people are most angry with me, I accept the blame. I will not hide behind anyone. We all know what Dinamo is and I respect its fans. Such things should not happen to us and I have nothing to complain about." When asked if this was his toughest defeat on the Dinamo bench, Kovačević replied: "Definitely, by far the toughest." He added: "You judge my results in these one year and four months. A new team, we won the league and the Cup, we entered the season well. It has not been easy and this is a big blunder now. I blame no one. In Europe we have four points, we wanted more."
Kovačević publicly accepted responsibility after the match, and now the decision of the club leadership is awaited. There is no official confirmation of Kovačević's departure yet. According to Index, everything points to tomorrow's meeting ending in a parting of ways between Dinamo and the manager.
