Derry City manager Tiernan Lynch considers the upcoming Uefa Conference League second qualifying round match against HNK Rijeka a prime chance for his squad to grow. The team heads into the fixture on Thursday evening hoping to recover from their recent aggregate loss to CSKA Sofia, which ended their Europa League run.
HNK Rijeka enters the matchup with strong pedigree, having finished fourth in the Croatian league last season and participated in the Conference League group phase. Lynch highlighted the quality of the opposition, specifically noting midfielder Toni Fruk, a Croatian international. He expects the visitors to play a technical, possession-heavy style characteristic of top European clubs.
Regarding the team’s preparation, Lynch emphasized that these matches serve as essential tests for his players. He noted the intensity of the home crowd during the previous European outing, where despite the loss, the supporters created an exceptional atmosphere. Following recent stadium disturbances during the CSKA Sofia match, which resulted in a suspended partial stadium closure and a fine for Derry City, Lynch expressed hope that the focus remains solely on the football this time.
