Hajduk's U-17 team records impressive statistics in the current season. The team is playing fast, dynamic and modern football, which ultimately results in a large number of scored goals. Apart from currently being ranked first in the table, the team led by coach Igor Tolic is brilliant in almost all measurable parameters.
So, after just 21 official matches (19 First League and 2 Cup games), they already scored the 100th goal this season, which means they scored 4.8 goals per game on average. Convincingly more than all their peers competing in the U-17 First HNL. On the other hand, despite an attack-oriented game, they conceded an average of 1.1 goals per game.
As many as the first three top scorers come from Hajduk, according to the current order they are Ivan Saric (21), Ivan Brnic (18) and Bruno Jenjic (15).
The last in a series of impressive data is about the number of international U-17 players coming from Hajduk. Namely, out of 25 of them, as many as 17 players have participated in international matches. Six of them as regular U-17 internationals, six with the same coach as U-16 international, and five more of them who receive calls every once in a while.
Their coach Igor Tolic doesn't hide his pleasure for working with such a team.
"It's a great group of players, the attack potential is enormous, we have a huge number of players that are forward-oriented. When one analyses their profile, preferences, desire and creativity, then the attacking football is logically imposed. All players participate in the organization of the attack, from goalkeeper to attackers. Creation and efficiency in decisions is a style of game that everyone loves, including both players and fans. We strive to keep the structure of the team in the other stages of the game too, sometimes we have a too exposed defensive line, in some of the matches we have conceded easy goals, but such things may always happen and we are working to improve that segment. Let's say we're constantly improving the defense by playing better in the attack. We are mostly oriented to create an even better team structure, transition to tackling and better defense at set pieces" says the coach.
Often we can see that Tolic's advising with the players from the bench is quite helpful to his team.
"I sometimes participate too much in the game, and I want it to reduce it as much as possible. I try to help them solve some of the situations in the match by changing positions. It would be better if they knew how to do it without me, but we are working on perfecting automatic reactions and I see progress in that field. We recently had a situation in which the attacking midfielder went over to play in another zone. I asked him why he did it, and he explained that he wanted to open the space as he had agreed with a teammate. These players were Jenjic and Brnic, in the end we scored thanks to that, and that is what I like and want from them. That they think about the game and find solutions".
We asked him about his goals for this season and what he expects from this generation in the future.
"I'm glad to hear their conversations, they are interested in their status in the team, they follow the older categories, Hajduk II and seniors. It's important to aspire there and that they want to see themselves someday playing for the first team. They care a lot about results and we are trying to support them, but without violating certain principles. We have more room for progress, but if they continue to work like this, which will for sure be the case in U-19 and senior B teams, it is certain that this extra progress will be visible. Cadets are practically the last generation in which you play with your age, already by switching to junior team, they face three different generations, the fluctuation is great and they can play in three categories. It is a lot more difficult and only then players will show who is really ready for serious professional football".
