Derry City Coach Calls Match Against HNK Rijeka As
July 23, 2026 ·
Derry City are set to face HNK Rijeka in the first leg of their UEFA Conference League qualifiers, with coach Tiernan Lynch emphasizing the importance of valuable experience from this match.
Derry City Coach Calls Match Against HNK Rijeka As
According to Sports.
Background
Toni Fruk, who has just returned from the World Cup with the Croatian national team, is expected to be one of the key players for HNK Rijeka in this match. As an experienced player, his contribution on the field will be very influential in the Rijeka team's strategy to face Derry City in the UEFA Conference League qualifiers.
Why this is important
The match against HNK Rijeka is important for Derry City, especially after their defeat to CSKA Sofia ended their Europa League hopes. This is an opportunity for the team to gain valuable experience on the European stage, which can help them in future competitions. With HNK Rijeka having a good reputation in the UEFA Conference League, Derry City can learn a lot from their opponents' playing style and techniques.
Main Points
- Derry City Coach Calls Match Against HNK Rijeka As.
- Derry City are set to face HNK Rijeka in the first leg of their UEFA Conference League qualifiers, with coach Tiernan Lynch emphasizing the importance of valuable experience from this match.
- HNK Rijeka tie 'a great opportunity' for Derry - Yahoo Sports.
Derry City coach, Tiernan Lynch, stated that the first leg of the UEFA Conference League second round qualifier against HNK Rijeka on Thursday will be a very valuable experience for his team. The match is scheduled to take place at 19:45 BST. Derry City are looking to bounce back after defeat to CSKA Sofia ended their hopes of Europa League qualification.
HNK Rijeka, a club from Croatia, finished fourth in the domestic league last season and managed to reach the group stage of the Conference League last year. Lynch revealed that his team would face strong opponents, "They have several big players who are key to their game. One of them is Toni Fuk, who has just returned from the World Cup with the Croatian national team," he told BBC Sport NI.
"Rijeka are a very good team, very technical and rely on ball possession. They want to control the game and keep the ball flowing. All this is what we usually expect from European clubs. We always have to see this as a valuable experience and an opportunity to learn from them. We always want to test ourselves against better players and teams. This will be a great opportunity for us," continued Lynch.
Derry City entered the second round of Conference League qualifying after losing 5-3 on aggregate to CSKA Sofia in Europa League qualifying. The second leg at the Brandywell was previously disrupted by unrest between rival supporters, which led to the match being temporarily suspended and police being called in.
Despite the loss and disruption, Lynch believes his team can take lessons from the experience to prepare for its upcoming Conference League qualifying games.
"The atmosphere at the previous game was incredible. It was the best night I've ever had at the Brandywell. We lost the game, but our fans were amazing," Lynch said. "They were very enthusiastic, kept cheering and sometimes gave us the support we needed to continue the game.
"If we can return to the same atmosphere, ideally we would like to get a draw or better in this match to maintain our chances in the second leg. That would be the ideal outcome for us."
As a result of the unrest, Derry City has been given a partial stadium closure which has been suspended for two years. They were also fined 20,000 euros (£17,000), while CSKA Sofia were handed a ban on bringing away fans to their next European match as well as additional sanctions which were also suspended for two years.
“I think this game should be remembered for football reasons,” added Lynch, who spoke before the punishment was announced on Tuesday. "Sadly, this match will be remembered for the riots and disruption that occurred. That's very unfortunate. I understand how it felt, because my family was also in the crowd at that time."
What happened next
Derry City will try hard to take advantage of this opportunity and show their best performance in the first leg of the UEFA Conference League qualifiers. This match is also an opportunity for players like Toni Fuk to shine after returning from the World Cup. If Derry City can overcome this challenge, they can increase their confidence and prepare for the upcoming second leg.
Frequently Asked Questions
What did the Derry City coach say about the match against HNK Rijeka?
Derry City coach, Tiernan Lynch, stated that the match against HNK Rijeka was a great opportunity and valuable experience for his team.
When is Derry City's match against HNK Rijeka scheduled?
The first leg of qualifying for the second round of the UEFA Conference League is scheduled to take place on Thursday at 19:45 BST.
Why does Derry City want to bounce back after the defeat to CSKA Sofia?
Derry City are looking to bounce back after defeat to CSKA Sofia ended their hopes of qualifying for the Europa League.
Who are the key players mentioned by the Derry City coach from HNK Rijeka?
The Derry City coach named Toni Fruk as one of the key players for HNK Rijeka who had just returned from the World Cup.
What do Derry City expect from the match against HNK Rijeka?
Derry City will be hoping to test themselves against better teams and see this match as a valuable experience.