Gurban Gurbanov: "First days were struggling"

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28 February 2024 17:00
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Gurban Gurbanov: "First days were struggling"

“It's a really long story. I have been in this team for almost 15 years."

Idman.biz reports that the Qarabag head coach of Gurban Gurbanov said this in a statement to the Turkish press.

The 52-year-old expert spoke about the steps resulting with the historic victory in Europe. Gurbanov recalled his first days at Qarabag: "In the beginning, we had struggling games and tough days. When we arrived in Qarabag, we held meetings with the management. After several meetings, it was said that they treat this team very seriously. Club president Abdolbari Gozal told me that I promised Heydar Aliyev that I would promote this team in Europe. Such a mission was set before us."
Gurbanov also spoke about the first successes: "As an Azerbaijani, this was a great motivation for me. Although we did not achieve such a good result in the championship, we won the Azerbaijan Cup and started participating in the European League. First, we advanced to the playoffs in the European Cup. It was a huge success for that time. After we got into the playoffs, we had a phone conversation with Mr. President Ilham Aliyev, he conveyed his congratulations and expressed his approval. This was an additional reason for strengthening our work, an additional motivation. We are currently in our 15th-16th year. This is how our career began, the foundation of our work was laid. The name Qarabag is known to all of us, how do we pay attention to this name. We have built a good business together with the management to keep this name alive. Today, we see the results of this."

Gurbanov emphasized the importance of the name of Qarabag: "We work here with great responsibility and heart. We have a good team in terms of management, staff and players. This is the case today. The motivation starts with me, how I tune in and prepare for the games. Then I demand it from the players. Our main motivation is the name of this team - Qarabag. All legionnaires are told what Qarabag means and what is the value of this name for Azerbaijan. Fortunately, the international players are also interested. We have a separate working group that informs football players about the country and Qarabag. They understand that."

The head coach also touched on the match held in Khankendi against MOIK: "After our glorious victory, after the 44-day war, the players began to be more sure of what Qarabag really means. We started, we had a game in Khankendi. It was a match of Azerbaijan Cup with MOIK. It was a very big day. Both the head of the country and the 1st vice president Mehriban Aliyeva participated there. Almost all state bodies were involved. The children of the martyrs were also there. It was an unforgettable day. Of course, it was a start, and a very serious start. I do not believe that anyone will forget that day. Today, we can talk a lot about this, what feelings we had, how we prepared, how the players were. I myself was in Khankendi for the first time. I went to Shusha before, but I have not been to Khankendi. It was a very big day. Thank you, the head of the country agreed and decided to hold such a match there, and he himself participated. It was a great message to the whole world."

Idman.biz