Turan Tovuz defender Faig Hajiyev gave an interview to Sportal.az.
– Turan Tovuz lost to Zira in the 33rd round of the Misli Premier League. What was the main reason for the defeat?
– Actually, we had a very good week of preparation. We were aware of Zira’s strengths, and that’s exactly where the goal came from. Even though we worked on those scenarios, we conceded because of a moment of carelessness. That mistake ultimately led to our defeat. So yes, it was really just a lapse in concentration that cost us.
– A strange point is that Turan Tovuz couldn’t create many chances against a Zira side that was down to ten men. Would you say this comes down to a lack of Plan B or inability to increase pressure?
– We knew Zira defends well — that’s one of their main strengths. After they went down to ten men, they focused even more on defending, which made things harder for us. Honestly, it’s always difficult to score against a side that’s sitting deep with numbers behind the ball. That’s just the nature of the game.
– Turan Tovuz is now fourth and has slipped further behind third-placed Araz-Nakhchivan. Meanwhile, Sabah in fifth is closing the gap. How do you see things unfolding?
– We’re getting close to the end of the season, and we’ll do our best in the remaining games. We’re treating every match like a final now, and then we’ll see where we stand.
– Next up is Neftchi, a team without much left to play for. Do you think they’ll be easy to beat?
– We know we’re in for a tough game against Neftchi. We’re preparing accordingly. If we go into the match with the kind of mindset you suggest, we won’t be able to beat them. Like every match, we need to approach this one with maximum seriousness and focus. Otherwise, we’ll just make life harder for ourselves.
– Turan Tovuz’s chances of qualifying for European competition partly depend on Qarabag winning the cup. Will you be rooting for Qarabag in the Qarabag–Sabah final?
– Of course, it would be good for us if Qarabag wins the cup. But it’s a final — it’s just one game. We’ll see what happens on the day. God willing, everything will work out well for us.
– This season, you’ve been one of Kurban Berdyev’s key players. Next season, the Premier League will drop the player quota rule. Do you think Berdyev will continue to trust you?
– I’m grateful to Kurban Berdyev for trusting me and giving me playing time. I’m doing everything I can to live up to that trust. Next season, it will all depend on me — on what shape I’m in. I’ll do my best to stay in the starting lineup. I’ve never been afraid of competition, and I see it as something that will help me improve.
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