Qarabag’s head coach, Gurban Gurbanov, reflected on his team’s 1:4 defeat to Lyon in the UEFA Europa League league phase.
Despite the heavy loss, he praised his players for their efforts and highlighted the importance of courage in football.
Idman.biz shares key moments from the post-match interview.
– What’s your assessment of the match?
– The opponent's skill level was very high. I’m grateful to the fans who supported us till the end despite the weather. The scoreline is disappointing, but overall, I’m satisfied with our performance. We gave our all against a strong opponent, but it wasn’t our day. Both of their first two goals came from our mistakes, but that’s football.
– Three matches remain. How do you rate your chances of advancing to the playoffs?
– The chances are still there. You can see how seriously our opponents take us, and their skills are superior. We have to acknowledge this reality but fight till the end. We respect the gap between domestic and European football but never use it as an excuse.
– Were you satisfied with Juninho’s performance today?
– I can’t say I’m unhappy. Apart from the penalty, he had four clear scoring opportunities. For a forward, creating such chances against a team like Lyon is significant.
– You substituted Yassin Benzia, which is rare. Why?
– The situation demanded it. The game was slipping away, and we needed more speed, so I brought on Addai.
– Do you reprimand or fine players after defeats like this?
– There’s a process for everything. Penalties are enforced when needed, even after victories. But it’s not always about reprimands; it’s about managing details professionally. In any case, I would like to thank my players that we have been able to maintain at least this level for years. Our rivals are strong teams like Ajax, Tottenham, Lyon. We don’t fear strong opponents. If we played timid football, Qarabag wouldn’t be what it is today. Courage is non-negotiable for us.
– You mentioned the gap with Top-5 nations. Do you see a day when an Azerbaijani striker leads Qarabag’s attack?
– Time will tell. Countries like Georgia have systems to produce such players, and I hope we achieve the same one day.
– Kevin Medina made a costly error for the second goal. Your thoughts?
– Such mistakes happen when players are overly eager. Fatigue and pressure against strong teams can lead to poor decisions. Kevin is an experienced player and needs to be more cautious, especially at this level.
Idman.biz
