"I would like to see 'Zira' advance to the next stage, and I will support them. The chances are 50/50. If the players properly execute what Rashad Sadygov tells them, they can do it."
According to İdman.biz, this is what former Azerbaijani national team player Ruslan Gurbanov said in an interview with Teleqraf while evaluating the first leg of the UEFA Conference League second qualifying round match between "Zira" and Croatian club "Hajduk."
The 34-year-old, who played for the Split club 10 years ago, said he watched the match, which ended in a 1-1 draw. Gurbanov noted that he supports the Zira: "I watched the match until the end; neither team wanted to lose. But 'Zira' had the opportunity to win and maintain the advantage. I will support them in the next match as well."
Emphasizing his familiarity with Croatian football, Gurbanov said the return match will be tough: "'Hajduk' is a gateway to Europe; players are developed there and sold for good prices. It would have been better to face another team, but it is what it is. The return match will be more difficult and in a completely different atmosphere. Playing in Split is not easy at all. They have the best fans there."
Ruslan Gurbanov played for "Hajduk" on loan in 2015. The return match between "Zira" and "Hajduk" will take place on July 31 at the "Poljud" Stadium.
Idman.biz
