"I congratulate the Ludogorets team for continuing, I think we deserved much more, for example, advancing to the next round. As I said after the first match, Europe does not forgive mistakes, and we made too many. Two big mistakes, two red cards. Just when we equalized and came back, we had everything under control".
This was stated by Rijeka coach Radomir Dzhalović, after his team lost 1:3 to the Bulgarian Ludogorets after extra time, playing with nine men in extra time.
"I am convinced that we would have held out on the field with one less player, even if we had continued. But already with nine - it was very difficult. I congratulate the boys once again, they gave their all, to the last atom of strength, but that did not reward us. We did not succeed, we turn to the match from the local championship with Slaven Belupo. There was a lot of energy expenditure, we need to rest well. We did not even enter the game properly, that penalty cut off our wings. But later we stabilized, scored a goal, we had opportunities and an exceptional chance through Fruk. We had everything in our hands and feet, but after the red cards it was all over. We had big problems in the midfield in the first half, so I took off Petrovic, and then we scored a goal", explained the Montenegrin coach of Rijeka.
"If we had not received the red cards, Ludogorets would have had a lot of problems. If a penalty is awarded to Ludogorets because of Radelič's handball - well, that's the referee's opinion. But then there is the same situation for us, where the ball hit Verdon and there was no penalty. But okay, that's the referee's decision“.
His team is not finished with Europe and goes down to the second UEFA tournament, where they will play the champion of the Republic of Ireland. "The match with Shelburne is only on Wednesday, we have to learn our lessons and move on", concluded Djalovic.