Slaven Belupo's football team has recently executed a significant roster shake-up by selling three essential players just before their match in the SHNL league against Hajduk. The attacking midfielder Adriano Jagušić has been transferred to Panathinaikos for a record €5.2 million, while forward Ante Šuto is moving to Hibernian for €500,000, and midfielder Michael Agbekpornu is headed to Huesca for €150,000. These transfers highlight a difficult predicament for the team, which is trying to navigate one of the toughest games of the season without some of their top talents.

Coach Mario Gregurina made an apt analogy by comparing the situation to a chess game. He remarked that they have lost key pieces, such as the queen, rook, and knight, with crucial stages of the game still ahead. The team faces significant pressure as they prepare to face Hajduk, and Gregurina expresses his hope that the squad can make the best of their remaining resources, including younger players whom they expect a lot from. The uncertainty surrounding the match allows for both challenges and opportunities, making the upcoming game crucial for the team’s morale and strategic planning.

As they gear up for what is expected to be a tumultuous start against the energetic Torcida fans, the first twenty minutes could prove to be the most daunting challenge. Gregurina acknowledges that the initial phase of the match could set the tone for the rest of the game and is a moment where the team's resilience will severely be tested. Despite the upheaval, there is a sense of hope that the players can rise to the occasion and secure a positive result, even in the wake of these significant departures from the team roster.