Interview with Zira goalkeeper Aydın Bayramov to QOL.az:
– You’ve been in training camp in Turkiye for a few days now. How are the preparations going and what’s the atmosphere like in the team?
– Everything is going well. There’s a positive, family-like atmosphere in the team. We’re giving it our all in training to be as ready as possible for the new season.
– You lost 0–4 to Qarabag in a friendly. Even though it wasn’t an official match, doesn’t such a heavy defeat create pressure?
– No, there’s no pressure at all. It was just a friendly and our first match after the break. The result isn’t important in such games — the key is getting the team back in form.
– The UEFA Conference League matches are coming up. What are your expectations against Croatia’s Hajduk?
– It’s football, and it’s hard to predict anything in advance. The most important thing is that we prepare well. Hajduk is a strong opponent, but we’ll give our maximum in those matches.
– How do you rate your chances?
– I’d say it’s 50–50. They’re a solid and experienced team, so it won’t be easy. Still, I think the chances are even at this stage.
– Have you watched their games? What are their main strengths?
– There’s still time before the matches. Our coaching staff will analyze the opponent and provide us with all the necessary information. As I said, our goal is to give everything on the pitch.
– Salifou Soumah and Raphael Utzig are reportedly leaving. How will the absence of these two key players affect your performance in the Conference League?
– Both Utzig and Soumah are important players for us, and great people off the field, too. But football is a team game and not dependent on one or two individuals. I believe we’ll manage fine even if they leave.
– You were Zira’s number one goalkeeper last season. With the foreign player limit removed, can we still expect you to be the main keeper?
– There’s always competition in our team, with or without the foreign player limit. We all work hard to prove ourselves. The final decision belongs to the coaching staff, and we respect that. The most important thing is for the team to succeed, and we’ll all do our best to make that happen, on and off the pitch.
Idman.biz
