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Mislav Orsic, the journeyman leading Dinamo’s bid for shock at City
ZAGREB, Sept 30, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Mislav Orsic gave Dinamo Zagreb a dream
start in the Champions League with a sensational opening round hat-trick
against Atalanta, and now the journeyman striker has a shot at downing all-
conquering Manchester City.
The 26-year-old is the competition’s leading scorer heading into their
daunting clash at the Etihad Stadium alongside RB Salzburg’s teenage
sensation Erling Braut Haaland.
However, his sudden rise to prominence for Dinamo comes after a middling
career that has seen him traverse the globe in anonymity.
Maintaining a position usually reserved for Lionel Messi or Cristiano
Ronaldo seems unlikely, but the three goals that put Orsic in top spot and
crushed Atalanta 4-0 has suddenly put him in the spotlight.
Front pages in Croatia hailed the “night that will enter into legend” and
Orsic as the hero, highlighting his journey “from unknown to a Champions
League star”.
The local boy started his senior career with Inter Zapresic, a team based
just outside the Croatian capital, in 2009, and before joining Dinamo last
year, he had played for a host of clubs in Croatia, Italy, Slovenia, China
and South Korea.
“I’m probably a surprise for some who did not know me as I was playing in
Asia, but I think there is still room for improvement in my game,” Orsic told
AFP.
“There is no other club for which I would feel the emotions I have every
time when I enter the stadium.”
Orsic’s good performances since the move home were rewarded this month
when he made his debut for Croatia in their 1-1 Euro 2020 qualifier draw with
Azerbaijan.
And Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic has included Orsic in his group for the
forthcoming qualifiers with Hungary and Wales.
“He’s an excellent attacker who looked promising after his First Division
debut 10 years ago. But then he went through a period of bad choices and
changes that slowed down his development,” prominent sports journalist Robert
Matteoni told AFP.
– European presence –
Dinamo go into their trip to City top of Group C thanks in large part to
Orsic’s treble over fancied Atalanta, who are taking part in their first-ever
Champions league campaign.
That is already a big step up for a club that failed to score a single
goal on their way to losing all six matches in their last group stage
appearance in 2016-17.
Dinamo already have one goal more than in their previous 12 Champions
League matches.
Pundits in Croatia say that Nenad Bjelica’s side are ready to make an
important step forward and could even fight for the second place in a group
that also includes Shakhtar Donetsk, and Orsic shares that view after seeing
the team get to the Europa League last 16 last season.
“We already had a great European result last season and this is only the
continuation. We have everything necessary to become a presence in Europe,”
he said.
Orsic, who credits for his success a “bit of talent and a lot of work,” is
an even an optimist ahead of the encounter with City.
“We all know who we are playing but that shouldn’t demotivate us,” he
said.
“We badly wanted the Champions League and to compete with the best clubs
and that’s what we have, it’s all up to us.
“If we play to 110 percent of our abilities and catch City by surprise
then anything is possible”.
BSS/AFP/MSY/0848 hrs