“Indeed, Qarabag is doing a great and honorable job for Azerbaijani football. To be among the 36 strongest teams and face such huge rivals is a hero’s feat in itself.”
These words were spoken by former Azerbaijan national team head coach Shahin Diniyev in an interview with Futbolinfo.az while discussing the UEFA Champions League draw, Idman.biz reports.
The 59-year-old specialist talked about the Azerbaijani champion’s group stage opponents: Liverpool (England), Benfica (Portugal), Napoli (Italy), Athletic Club (Spain), Chelsea (England), Eintracht Frankfurt (Germany), Ajax (Netherlands), and Copenhagen (Denmark). He considers the group satisfactory: “Participating in the group stage is an achievement in itself because you have to face the world’s strongest teams. I don’t agree that this is the strongest group of all. If we look at every group, there is no weak opponent in any of them. The 36 strongest teams are in the same tournament; there are no weak teams in the Champions League. Each group carries its own heavy load. Therefore, the group that the Agdam representative has fallen into also consists of such strong teams.”
The expert noted that the “Neftchi” (Qarabag) will now play calmly and confidently, with nothing to lose: “Let’s admit that it is very difficult to advance from the group in front of these giants. Qarabag was under pressure in previous matches to qualify for the group stage because they had nothing to lose, only things to gain. I believe Qarabag will not be an easy target for these opponents and will fight valiantly. For the Agdam club and its fans, these 8 matches are a huge celebration. In this regard, Qarabag has already shown its strength. It’s impossible to say in advance which matches they will win or lose, but we can say they will compete honorably and add color to the group stage games. Gurban Gurbanov’s team has already done its maximum. Whatever they gain from now on will just be added on top. Every match will be a celebration for us. These games will also provide the ‘Neftchi’ with valuable experience. They have been playing in Europe for several years. In the new Champions League format, there will be 8 matches with different opponents each time. They will face teams that are different both in name and tactical style. We shouldn’t expect huge achievements from Qarabag; they should play to enjoy football. I simply wish them success. Qarabag will continue to surprise us. I believe the team will maintain its successful performance at this level, and each game will provide valuable experience.”
Idman.biz
