20.08.2026 23:20
Kauno Zalgiris Head Coach Zeljko Sopic stated that Besiktas are at a much different level compared to them, and also praised the atmosphere created by the black-and-white fans.
In the first leg of the UEFA Europa League play-off round, Kauno Zalgiris lost 3-0 to Besiktas away from home.
''BESIKTAS COULD HAVE SCORED MORE GOALS''
Speaking at the press conference held after the match, Kauno Zalgiris Head Coach Zeljko Sopic said, "First of all, I want to congratulate Besiktas. Besiktas was definitely the better team. It was a very long 90 minutes for me and my players. I and my team knew this, but I am still proud of my players because they fought well. Maybe it might seem a bit strange to you in the media that after losing 3-0, the coach comes here and says I am proud of my players. But this is a completely different level. I could say it's like the Super Mario level. Therefore, it is a bit difficult for us to reach those levels as well. Besiktas could have found more goals today, perhaps. Of course, I have some disappointment on my team's side. We conceded goals from a corner at the beginning of the match and then from a penalty. But that doesn't mean Besiktas couldn't have scored in different ways. I am proud of my team."
"THE ATMOSPHERE WAS INCREDIBLE''
Speaking with praise about the atmosphere created by the black-and-white fans at Tupraş Stadium, Sopic said, "I have watched many of Besiktas's matches. I can honestly say that Besiktas is at a very different level. They reach these levels by investing in their team. We are also happy to play in the Conference League. Maybe it will be better for us. We will focus on ourselves in the Conference League and the league. Therefore, it is really difficult to be compared to Besiktas. I am an honest person. I could never go and say after this match, 'We can win 4-0 at home.' If the opponent is better than us, sometimes you just have to congratulate them. So, we will do our best for the matches we will play in the league and the Conference League. I also want to say that the fans and the atmosphere today were truly incredible. We are quite happy to have played here."