A feature article dedicated to FC Qarabag’s performances in the current UEFA Champions League season has been published in the Russian sports media.
As reported by Idman.biz, the author of the piece in the newspaper Sovetsky Sport provided a detailed analysis of the reasons behind the Azerbaijani champion’s success and described the club as the main phenomenon of the tournament among post Soviet teams.
The champion of Azerbaijan is currently the strongest team in the post Soviet space. Despite a painful home defeat to Ajax (2:4), Qarabag have already collected 7 points in matches against Benfica, Copenhagen and Chelsea, which gives them serious hopes of reaching the playoffs, the article says.
Special attention in the publication is given to the head coach of the Agdam club and the team philosophy that has been formed over many years.
The first and probably main factor behind Qarabag’s success is a clearly structured playing system that Gurban Gurbanov has been building for 18 years. The team tries to play its own football regardless of the opponent’s status or titles, the author emphasizes.
It is also noted that Qarabag do not abandon their bold style of play even against European giants.
It is especially telling that in the match against Chelsea, a team capable of controlling the game, Gurbanov’s side did not sit deep at the back even once throughout the entire match. When in possession, Qarabag line up in a 4-3-3 formation, and without the ball they act just as flexibly as Europe’s leading clubs, writes Sovetsky Sport.
The article also highlights the team’s leaders and the balanced age profile of the squad, which allows the club to deliver consistent results.
Qarabag’s football is a true team game, where every element works with precision. The ideal age balance makes the current season a peak one for the Agdam club, the publication states.
The material also pays attention to Azerbaijan’s football infrastructure.
In European competitions, Qarabag host their opponents at the 30,000 seat Tofiq Bahramov Stadium. The arena, named after Soviet referee Tofiq Bahramov, boasts modern infrastructure and is considered one of the symbols of Azerbaijani football. In general, the word modern can be applied to many facilities in Baku. The capital of Azerbaijan is developing rapidly, and the football breakthrough goes hand in hand with the economic success of one of the main cities of the South Caucasus, the author notes.
In conclusion, the journalists drew parallels between Azerbaijani and Russian football.
The main thing that unites the champions of Azerbaijan and Russia (Krasnodar - Ed.) is their systematic approach. Their sporting success is built on a solid foundation, infrastructure, and a strong fan base. And neither club intends to stop at what they have achieved. That is why they look to the future with optimism, the publication concludes.
