A press conference was held with Azerbaijan national team head coach Fernando Santos ahead of the 2026 World Cup qualifying matches against Iceland and Ukraine.
– You were supposed to be the most opposed to the removal of the foreign player limit. Are you not regretting it now?
– First, I want to congratulate Qarabag. They have qualified for the Champions League group stage. I think this is a very important achievement for Qarabag. I congratulate all Qarabag players, especially Gurban Gurbanov. Of course, this success is a great achievement for Azerbaijan. Europe will talk about Qarabag and Azerbaijan for some time. Regarding your question, it’s not my concern. I am just the head coach, focused on my work. Other decisions are made by the leaders of Azerbaijani football.
– Captain Badavi Huseynov is absent. Rza Jafarov and Aydin Bayramov have not played this season. Did you have no other options?
– Of course, it worries me when a player does not compete regularly. As a head coach, I want all players to have consistent playing time. But this is the current reality. We have to work with this scenario and do our best with the material we have to prepare well and achieve good results in the upcoming matches. I want all invited players to play regularly. We analyze and watch games. I have great respect for Badavi, he is not invited this time because he hasn’t played. But that doesn’t mean I’ve ruled him out. We may see him in upcoming matches.
– You said you hope for good results. What would a good result be for you in the next two matches?
– It’s football, any result is possible. But based on recent friendlies and previous training camps, I can say the players are very motivated and train well. That gives me hope that we can achieve the results we want. I, the players, and the Azerbaijani people all hope for victory.
– Were you consulted on the removal of the foreign player limit? What is your personal opinion?
– I have already answered that.
– Why wasn’t Mehdi Jannatov called up?
– He couldn’t be invited due to passport problems. Vusal Isgandarli has the same issue.
– In your first press conference, you said you wanted to do in Azerbaijan what you did in Greek football. But now you say you are just the head coach and that decisions are made by AFFA leadership…
– The foreign player limit is not my responsibility. That’s an analysis. You cannot compare one country with another. In Portugal, there is no foreign player limit, 11 foreigners can play, but many players are abroad. Each country must decide what steps will help its football.
– How do you assess Qarabag’s chances in the Champions League group stage?
– It will not be easy. The opponents are clear. Qarabag has reached this stage fairly and will do its best to represent the country well. I cannot comment on points.
– What are your thoughts on the Iceland and Ukraine national teams?
– They are not easy opponents. Iceland has been playing together with the same players for a long time, and all players play abroad. They are experienced and skilled. They are very good at building attacks from the back and have well-organized offensive plays. They are aggressive without the ball and try to regain possession immediately. My assistants and I have analyzed Iceland’s games and identified their strengths and weaknesses. They are strong in attack. We will prepare our team well for this game. They play in a 4-2-3-1 formation and shift to 4-3-3 in attack. They are an intensive team, and it will be a very good game. Ukraine is also a strong opponent. Comparing Iceland and Ukraine, Iceland plays 4-2-3-1, while Ukraine plays with one defensive midfielder and two attacking players in front. Our job is to analyze both teams thoroughly and convey it to our players. One of the matches is away, which is a long trip. We decided to travel to Iceland early to settle in and adjust, since the four-hour time difference could affect the players. After that, we will play at home. We trust the support of our fans and hope they will back us. This is important. Regardless of the opponent’s strength, the team goes into every game to win.
– The national team has faced harsh criticism for poor results. How do you respond to this?
– I have been working as a head coach for 40 years (laughs).
Idman.biz
