Kek returns to a place that he doesn't remember well, and Carevic has to "start the engines" or he's in for a black scenario.
In August 2026, Matjaž Kek returns to his former role as coach of Hajduk Split after an eight-year absence. His return comes amid mixed results for the team, which has managed three league wins but also suffered defeats, including a notable loss against Varazdin. Kek faces challenges in adapting to a squad he believes lacks the quality of his trophy-winning seasons. Meanwhile, Hajduk's upcoming match against Gorica holds personal significance for Kek, as he seeks redemption for a previous defeat in 2018. On the other side, Gorica's coach Mario Carević is under significant pressure due to the team's poor performance this season, marked by four consecutive losses and weak attacking displays.
Zagreb has demonstrated strong preparation ahead of the new season, with two former European champions set to open the competition in a notable match. The team returned from Macedonia after a successful international preparatory tournament in Ohrid, where they defeated Vojvodina, the Egyptian under-20 national team, and drew with the host city. They also secured third place by beating Trimo Trebnje. In addition, Zagreb performed well during the Fresh Corner Cup 2026 in Hungary, finishing second after losing in the final to Kielce. These results have served as a solid foundation for their upcoming official matches. The latest friendly game saw Zagreb defeat Dugo Selo 33–25, with Manuel Štrlek emerging as the top performer with five points. Other key contributors included Diano Neris Ćeško and Giorgi Tskhovrebadze, both scoring four points each. This victory marked the culmination of their preparations before the start of the league season. Zagreb’s roster has been strengthened this season with the arrival of several notable players. Marko Mamić joined from German Bundesliga side Leipzig, while Manuel Štrlek, a former national team player and club legend, returned. Slovenian goalkeeper Urh Kastelic, who had previously played for teams in Germany, has also rejoined. New additions include Zlatko Raužan, Matvej Barbašinski from Belarus, Russian Gleb Kalaraš from Hungarian Pick Szeged, and young Serbian talent Jovica Nikolić. Diano Neris Ćeško, a central defender, came from the old Zagreb academy, Izviđač from Ljubušk. The existing core of the squad includes Haris Suljević, Sandro Meštrić, Ihar Bialiauski, Ivano Pavlović, Davor Gavrić, Igor Karačić, Giorgi Tskhovrebadze, Abdelrahman Abdou, Stanislau Sadouski, and new captain Filip Glavaš. Whether this depth will translate into success remains to be seen. While home games are expected to be manageable, especially within Group A of the domestic league, which includes Bjelovar, Nexe, Dugo Selo, Poreč, Rudar, Bjelin Spačva, and Ardiaei, the real test comes with the European competitions. In the new format of the Champions League, Zagreb is grouped with Paris Saint-Germain, Aalborg, and Celje. Their European campaign begins with hosting Celje at their stadium on September 9th. The team's new coach, Hrvoje Horvat, a former Croatian national team selector, expressed satisfaction with the pre-season performances. He is particularly optimistic about the upcoming official match against his hometown team, Bjelovar, which will take place on September 5th. The match is scheduled to begin at 19:14 local time, marking a symbolic moment as it echoes the 1972 European Cup final where the previous Bjelovar team, known as Partizan, won 19–14 against Gummersbach. During ten preparatory matches, Zagreb recorded eight wins, one draw, and one loss. However, these results were just warm-ups for the challenges that lie ahead. The team will now face the demands of the domestic and European seasons, with the first official match serving as a crucial step toward achieving their goals.
Go to the primary sources (1)
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The article reports on a football match between Rijeka and Gorica, which ended in a draw. Rijeka's coach, Matjaž Kek, criticized his team's performance, noting they lacked players capable of penetrating a closed defense and were making early mistakes and becoming nervous. He emphasized the need for more dangerous play and pointed out that their lack of goals was due to these issues. The game was delayed by half an hour due to a reflector malfunction.
Bias read (Center): The article focuses on a sports event and does not involve politically charged topics such as government, elections, or public policy. Therefore, it is considered apolitical and has a neutral lean.
Why factuality (90): This article provides an accurate summary of Kek’s post-match comments, focusing on the team’s inability to break down Gorica’s defense and the lack of players capable of handling one-on-one situations. It aligns closely with the content of the first article and reflects the cross-source consensus w
Why objectivity (85): The article remains largely objective, quoting Kek directly and avoiding strong editorial commentary. However, the phrase 'radimo početničke greške' implies a judgmental tone, suggesting a level of criticism that may subtly influence perception of the team’s performance.
Matjaž Kek, trener nogometnog kluba Rijeke, izrazio je frustraciju nakon remija bez pogodaka u utakmici protiv Velike Gore. Iako je tim kontrolirao igru, Kek smatra da su bili premalo konkretni i agresivni, posebno u zadnjoj trećini. Napominje nedostatak igrača koji mogu riješiti dueli jedan na jedan i problem s fizičkom pregrevanjem. Kek ističe potrebu za poboljšanjem performansi i naglašava ovisnost kluba o prodaji igrača. Mario Carević, glavni trener, komentariše da su imali šanse, ali nisu iskoristili priliku, a novi igrači još nisu spremni. Promjena na vratima s Renatom Josipovićem bila je dobra, ali potrebna je nadogradnja u napadu.
Bias read (Center): The article focuses on a sports match and coach commentary, which is inherently apolitical. There is no indication of political bias or framing. The content is purely about team performance, strategy, and player availability, with no reference to political issues, ideologies, or policies. Therefore,
Why factuality (85): The article accurately reports Matjaž Kek’s comments after the match, including his criticism of the team’s performance, lack of players to handle one-on-one situations, and the club’s financial constraints. The details align with the general consensus from other sources, though some specific contex
Why objectivity (80): The article maintains a relatively neutral tone, presenting Kek’s statements without overt bias. However, it includes some evaluative phrases such as 'premalo smo bili konkretni' and 'nervoza je uvijek pri kraju prijelaznog roka,' which slightly lean toward expressing disappointment rather than pure
The article discusses Hajduk's upcoming match against Lokomotiva, marking their return to the top flight after a 16-year absence. Gonzalo Garcia, the team's coach, emphasizes the importance of the game against Lokomotiva, calling them a special team with unique playing styles. He praises Lokomotiva's trainer, Jelavić, for his innovative approach and acknowledges past competitive encounters. Garcia also reflects on the team's recent success, highlighting the players' dedication and professionalism, while stressing the need to focus on the next match. He mentions the challenges of managing player fitness and readiness, expressing confidence in the squad's commitment.
Bias read (Center): The article presents a balanced perspective by focusing on football strategy, player performance, and coaching insights without overtly favoring any political ideology. It reports on sports events and team dynamics rather than engaging in ideological debate.
Why factuality (75): The article reports on a football match between Hajduk and Lokomotiva, citing quotes from coach Gonzalo Garcia. It provides contextual information about the teams' standings and previous encounters. While there is no primary source document, the information aligns with typical sports reporting conve
Why objectivity (80): The article maintains a neutral tone, presenting Garcia's statements as they are without apparent bias. The focus is on the game and team dynamics rather than taking sides. However, there is a slight emphasis on the significance of the match and the importance of preparation, which may lean slightly
In August 2026, Matjaž Kek returns to his former role as coach of Hajduk Split after an eight-year absence. His return comes amid mixed results for the team, which has managed three league wins but also suffered defeats, including a notable loss against Varazdin. Kek faces challenges in adapting to a squad he believes lacks the quality of his trophy-winning seasons. Meanwhile, Hajduk's upcoming match against Gorica holds personal significance for Kek, as he seeks redemption for a previous defeat in 2018. On the other side, Gorica's coach Mario Carević is under significant pressure due to the team's poor performance this season, marked by four consecutive losses and weak attacking displays.
Bias read (Center): The article focuses solely on sports outcomes and coaching decisions within a football club, without any political commentary, bias, or framing that suggests a particular ideological stance. The content remains strictly factual and descriptive of athletic performance and managerial situations.
Why factuality (75): While this article contains relevant historical context regarding Kek’s previous tenure at Rijeka, it lacks clarity on the current match outcome and focuses more on past events. This makes it less aligned with the cross-source consensus, which centers on the recent match performance rather than hist
Why objectivity (70): The article has a more subjective tone due to its focus on historical comparisons and the use of phrases like 'crno-bijeli tonovi' and 'uvjerljiv poraz,' which introduce interpretive language and frame the current season in a more critical light compared to the other articles.
How each side covered it
The same event, grouped by the political lean of the outlets covering it.
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How each side covered it
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