Araz-Nakhchivan striker Ramon Machado sat down with Sportal.az to share his thoughts on staying with the club, preparations for the new season, and their upcoming debut in European competition.
– You’ve signed a new contract with Araz-Nakhchivan. Did you receive offers from other clubs in the Azerbaijani Premier League?
– First of all, I want to say I’m happy to stay at Araz-Nakhchivan. I have great respect for Zaur Akhundov and Elmar Bakhshiyev. Honestly, yes, there were offers from other clubs, but I chose to stay, and I’m glad I did.
– Your club has been one of the most active in the transfer market. Can we expect an even stronger Araz-Nakhchivan this season?
– Definitely. We believe this upcoming season will be a great one for Araz-Nakhchivan. Those who’ve left contributed to our past success, and the new signings already know how well we performed last season. We’ve got a strong team and we’re working hard.
– For the first time in the club’s history, Araz-Nakhchivan will compete in Europe. You've drawn Aris in the UEFA Europa Conference League. What do you think about the draw?
– Success comes from hard work, and we’re determined to keep working hard. Playing in European competitions is a big step for us, and we’re focused on preparing well.
– Have you done any research on Aris? What do you think your chances are of progressing to the next round?
– To be honest, we don’t know much about Aris yet. Right now, we’re focused on improving our physical fitness and overall preparation. We’ll have plenty of time to study our Greek opponents soon.
– Sometimes clubs make surprising runs in their first European campaign. Do you believe Araz-Nakhchivan can reach the group stage of the Conference League?
– As I mentioned, our priority right now is solid preparation. As the games approach, our coaching staff will guide us and help us get ready. We put in a great effort last season, and we’ll fight for the best outcome in every match. Hopefully, everything will go as we plan.
Idman.biz
