As Dinamo Zagreb prepares to face AC Milan in the final match of the Champions League group stage, Zvonimir Boban, a legendary figure for both clubs, shared his thoughts in an interview with HRT. The former midfielder, who played for both teams during his illustrious career, offered insights on the upcoming match and his divided loyalties.
Reflecting on his connections to both clubs, Boban stated, “Dinamo and Milan are two clubs that mean a lot to me, two great teams with which I had the privilege of experiencing incredible stories. Dinamo has been with me since birth, while I made Milan my own. Now I follow both with great love and respect.”
When asked about his allegiance for the match, Boban was unequivocal: “I was born and raised as a Dinamo fan, how could I support Milan in this match? With all due respect and love for Milan, I will certainly be cheering for Dinamo.”
Boban provided his analysis of what Dinamo needs to defeat Milan, suggesting, “It will be an open and interesting match, with many turnovers and many goals. Milan is taking a lot of risks and hasn’t yet found the right balance in defense.”
The Croatian legend also commented on Fabio Cannavaro’s recent appointment as Dinamo’s new coach: “What Cannavaro is doing with Dinamo is certainly an attempt to find balance, because he’s Italian and has had great coaches as mentors. You can immediately see that he gives great importance to team organization.”
Boban, who played against Cannavaro numerous times, added, “I know Fabio well. He’s an extraordinary person, very responsible and orderly. I believe he has the same approach as a coach. I don’t know his technical style well, I haven’t followed his work in China, and things didn’t go very well at Benevento. But this means nothing: he could build his first great success story with Dinamo.”
The interview also touched on Gennaro Gattuso’s role as coach of Hajduk Split, with Boban noting, “This shows the respect that the football world has for Croatia and our league. They didn’t come here because they had no alternatives, but because they were intrigued by this challenge. I’m happy that two greats like them are leading our clubs. At the same time, I hope that one day our local coaches can also emerge.”
Boban expressed frustration with the lack of progress on new stadiums in Croatia: “Everyone talks about it, except those who should. I’m referring to the Croatian Football Federation (HNS), which should push for a project to build new stadiums. It’s a shame for all of us, but especially for Croatian politics and football.”
Finally, when asked about the secret behind Croatia’s success in high-level sports, Boban explained, “We are a talented people, with a strong competitive spirit. We want to prove our worth in the world, even if we are a small country. It’s in our cultural and sporting DNA. There’s no doubt that we will continue to have great results, not only in football but in many other sports.”
