HNK Rijeka head coach Matjaž Kek outlined his philosophy ahead of a key league match, stressing that the club must focus solely on its own performance. In an interview published on the official nk-rijeka.hr portal on Friday, Kek previewed the Saturday 9 PM fixture against Osijek at Stadion HNK Rijeka, part of the sixth round of the SuperSport HNL.
Osijek arrived at the match in strong form with four wins and one loss in the league, their only defeat coming away at Hajduk. The Rijeka coach acknowledged Osijek as a team at the top of the table and the most pleasant surprise of the championship. "A team from the top is coming to us, the most pleasant surprise of the championship, a team that coach Bessone has set up well, a squad with character and confidence, and that's how I expect them at Rujevica," Kek said.
What is the key to Rijeka's success?
For Matjaž Kek, the fact that Osijek is a leading team does not change Rijeka's expectations. He clearly expressed the club's core philosophy. "It must be written in HNK Rijeka's DNA that we don't care what the opponent's name is, we must think about ourselves and the quality of our game, and we have a lot of room for improvement," the coach emphasized. This statement represents the fundamental approach Kek wants from his team, regardless of the opponent's strength or reputation.
Rijeka currently sits fifth in the HNL with 10 points from five games, recording three wins, one draw, and one loss. Their goal difference stands at +3, with nine scored and six conceded. In the title race, they trail leaders Dinamo Zagreb by three points. The team's recent form is WDWLW, highlighting the need for consistency. You can track the evolving league picture on our standings page.
How did Osijek become a serious opponent?
Kek provided a detailed analysis of Osijek's transformation under coach Bessone. He described them as an aggressive and well-organized squad that managed to change its playing philosophy in a very short time. The Rijeka coach attributed the quality of this change to the work of Osijek's coaching staff, specifically highlighting the role of Vedran Jugović. Kek noted that Jugović had burdened Rijeka with his performances in the past, which speaks to the quality of players Osijek has at its disposal.
This level of opponent analysis shows how thoroughly Rijeka prepares for each match. While the focus is on their own game, Kek and his staff carefully monitor all aspects of rival teams. This is part of the professional approach expected from a club with Rijeka's ambitions.
What follows after the Osijek match?
Following this important fixture, Rijeka will turn to its next challenge in the HNL. As soon as Saturday, September 12, 2026, they will visit NK Lokomotiva Zagreb, who currently sit seventh in the table. This match will be part of a run that tests Rijeka's consistency for the rest of the season. The full schedule of upcoming matches is available on our fixtures page.
For Kek, every match is an opportunity for progress. He expected a quality encounter against Osijek and a successful outcome for his team. Rijeka has a clear chance to close the gap to the top of the table with a good result at Rujevica. The squad has potential for improvement, as Kek himself admitted. The key will be the consistent application of their playing philosophy throughout the season. The next match against Lokomotiva in Zagreb on September 12th represents the next step in that process.
