Hungarian national team forward Martin Ádám shared his thoughts with AZERTAC ahead of the upcoming friendly match against Azerbaijan, scheduled for June 10 in Baku.
“This is a friendly match, so both coaches will likely use the opportunity to test new players and tactics,” Ádám said. “Games like this are great chances for young players to prove themselves. If we look back at previous encounters between the two sides in the Nations League and other matches, Hungary seems to be the favorite. I trust our team will rise to the occasion.”
Asked about his impression of the Azerbaijani national team, Ádám noted that many of the players represent the country’s most prominent club, Qarabag. “There are also several players competing in strong leagues like South Korea, Poland, and the German 2. Bundesliga. The coaching staff clearly believes in them,” he said.
Commenting on Fernando Santos, the experienced Portuguese coach currently leading the Azerbaijani squad, Ádám acknowledged his impressive résumé: “Santos is very experienced. Although Azerbaijan hasn’t secured a win under his management yet, there were some promising signs, especially in the recent home match against Estonia, which ended in a draw. With time, I believe he can deliver results.”
Though Ádám hasn’t played under or against Santos personally, he emphasized the coach’s pedigree: “He led Portugal to victory at Euro 2016 and won the Nations League in 2019. He’s undoubtedly successful. The current results might not be ideal, but he deserves time to implement his system.”
Among Azerbaijani players, Ádám pointed out Mahir Emreli as a standout talent. “He’s very skilled and has solid international experience. He had a great season with Nurnberg. I’ve also played against Anton Krivotsyuk in South Korea—he’s a tough left-back and has proven himself over three strong seasons. I wish Azerbaijan the best of luck in their upcoming matches, and thank you for the interview,” he concluded.
Idman.biz
