Dinamo Tbilisi coach Ketsbaia excludes veteran goalkeeper Loria following team collapse

Tensions have escalated at Dinamo Tbilisi following the team's elimination by Zalgiris Vilnius. Manager Temur Ketsbaia has officially decided to remove 40-year-old goalkeeper Giorgi Loria from the first-team squad, citing a lack of performance and the need to prioritize younger players. The conflict between the two, who share a long history dating back to the Georgian national team and Anorthosis, reached a breaking point after the squad returned from Lithuania.

In a recent press conference, Ketsbaia accepted responsibility for the team's collapse but expressed frustration with the current state of Georgian football, which he described as catastrophic. He emphasized that at his age, Loria should be leading the team or providing essential support, but he no longer sees him as a starter. While Ketsbaia has informed the squad of his decision, the final ratification rests with the club’s management. Ketsbaia aims to pivot toward integrating younger players into the squad as he seeks to rebuild following the disappointing European exit.