Former Croatia coach Igor Stimac says Gennaro Gattuso’s behaviour in his public spat with tv analyst Josko Jelicic was “not befitting a coach of Hajduk Break up”.
Gattuso took umbrage at Jelicic’s criticism of him and his team following Hajduk’s 3-0 defeat to title rivals Rijeka on Sunday, refusing to shake his hand or communicate to him throughout a post-match interview.
Issues bought heated between Joško Jeličić and Gennaro Gattuso after the match. pic.twitter.com/NZEd6Qe04x
— Croatian Soccer (@CroatiaFooty) March 16, 2025
Stimac sides with finest man Jelicic
Stimac, who gained the Croatian title with Hajduk as a participant and coach, was unimpressed, though he did admit to having a powerful bond with Jelicic.
He instructed the www.sportske.jutarnji.hr web site: “Though I used to be Joško’s finest man at his marriage ceremony, and we’re superb mates, I’ve no cause to be subjective.
“What Gattuso did isn’t befitting him, as a world champion, not befitting him because the coach of Hajduk, and never befitting him as a foreigner on this nation, to not respect those that touch upon matches.
“No matter Joško’s sure cynicism, with which he is aware of how to boost his commentary, which is impeccable, we will analyse the whole lot he mentioned, and there may be not a single little bit of a lie there.
“So, he hits precisely the place he must, analyses matches, and makes his commentary that 99 per cent of individuals agree with. Some are towards his fashion, nevertheless it clearly fits TV. Perhaps he typically goes a bit of too far, however he does his job.”
Stimac suggests Gattuso would have been sacked if he was Croatian
Sunday’s defeat noticed Hajduk slip to second, two factors behind table-toppers Rijeka and Stimac questioned Gattuso’s impression in Break up since taking on in June final yr.
“What has he delivered to Hajduk?” he added. “I imagine that so long as Hajduk, Dinamo [Zagreb], Osijek and Rijeka don’t insist on each outcomes and the [quality of] play, our soccer and the league is not going to go in the precise course.
“And that should be the precedence of each coach, as a result of the golf equipment pay them very effectively.
“I ask a logical query. How many people Croats would Hajduk have sacked if our group performed like Gattuso’s? He’s being missed the entire time.
“You shoot on the purpose as soon as, you give completely nothing, your group has no requirements, you haven’t any coordination, you haven’t any linked actions, you haven’t any combos, you don’t have anything.
“A number of gamers repeatedly performed within the mistaken positions, and you continue to dare after such a recreation, after a 3-0 defeat, to return to the studio and threaten.”
He was fortunate I wasn’t there…
Stimac was a no-nonsense centre-half in a enjoying profession that included stints at West Ham and Derby and he’s not certain he would have been in a position to comprise himself in the way in which Jelicic did within the face of Gattuso’s hostility.
“He was fortunate that I wasn’t there,” he mentioned. “It wouldn’t have been good. I wouldn’t have put up with it, all credit score to Jelicic.”
