Víctor Sánchez: “We are coming to Armenia only for victory” — press conference highlights

On Thursday, October 2, Croatian side Rijeka will face Armenian champion Noah in Yerevan in the first round of the UEFA Conference League 2025/26 group stage.

Before traveling to Yerevan, head coach Víctor Sánchez and Bosnian defender Stjepan Radeljić held a press conference.

Rijeka’s head coach Víctor Sánchez emphasized that the team is coming to Armenia only for victory:

“We are starting our European journey and are highly motivated. A tough opponent with quality players awaits us, but we want to exploit their weaknesses and show our strengths.”

The Spanish coach noted that Noah prefers to play in a 4-3-3 formation, making frequent use of long balls and set pieces. He admitted Rijeka has problems with finishing chances but expressed confidence that the team will soon reach the right level.

“Noah is used to playing in strong wind conditions, making active use of long passes and set pieces. They usually play 4-3-3 with an emphasis on wing attacks. We have prepared a plan to neutralize their strengths while creating chances at their goal.”

Rijeka faces some squad issues. Forward Duje Čop and midfielder Gabrijel Rukavina remain doubtful, while injured players Damir Kreilach and Mile Škorić, as well as Ante Majstorović, will not feature. On the bright side, Vignato has recovered.

Defender Stjepan Radeljić, who recently returned from injury, expressed hope that the match against Noah could become a turning point:

“We are going for three points. I hope this game will be a turning point for us. The main thing is to regain defensive solidity, like last season.”

“A tough game awaits us in Armenia. We are not in the best situation, but we are going for the win. I hope this match will be the one to change everything. European competitions are always different from the domestic league — it’s a separate story,” Radeljić said.

The match Noah vs. Rijeka will take place on October 2 in Yerevan, kicking off at 20:45 local time.