Sport24.az
"I had said beforehand that today's game would be difficult. It's difficult to play against the same opponent 2 times in a row. Both the opponent and we had drawn conclusions from the previous game, and we had made some adjustments. It's true that neither the guests nor we could show our best game today. We didn't perform so well in the first half. In the second half, the opponent created dangerous episodes. We defended well. We knew that the opponent would push forward in the second half. I must also give credit to my players and my assistant who prepared the homework. The second half was a more open game. We could have finished the game by distinguishing ourselves from counter-attacks. Unfortunately, we couldn't take advantage of the goal opportunities. We took the game to extra time. What upset me was that we couldn't use the goal opportunities. It's a cup game, it could have gone to penalties. That's why there was tension near the end. I must give credit to my footballers. I thank our fans who supported us. We need to recover tomorrow, then an important match against Neftchi awaits us."
Sport24.az reports that these words were said by Sabah's head coach Valdas Dambrauskas at the press conference held after the match against Imishli in the 1/8 final stage of the national cup. He answered journalists' questions.
- Have you watched the replay of the penalty awarded to your goal? Did the ball hit your player's hand there?
- Did you see it? I don't want to discuss this. But I'm "burning" inside. I don't want to comment. My job is to train my players. The job of their management is to teach the referees how to referee. This issue is closed for me. They could have awarded a penalty in our favor. The referees made different decisions. They found something in VAR, they saw it. We found strength in ourselves and took the lead in the score. We are focused on our work.
- How do you assess Sabah's chances of reaching the final and winning the cup?
- This season is a new season. The club has a new head coach. I don't even think one percent about what will happen in the cup in the future. Now I'm thinking about the upcoming game against Neftchi, and then the game against Turan Tovuz. I'm more interested in the upcoming meetings. Tomorrow's training is more important to me at this moment. We will have a tough game against Neftchi.
- Sabah will play with Neftchi. You played the cup match one day after them. Can this moment give the opponent an advantage?
- Can I change that? No. I would rather change the things that are more under my control. I can't change that. My job is to better adapt the children to the game.
