"I think that after so many foreign coaches, it is time to give a chance to a local expert who knows Azerbaijani football well."
Idman.biz reports that this was stated by Fabio Luis Ramim, the former midfielder of the Azerbaijani national team, in an interview with futbolinfo.az.
We present that interview:
– Our national team lost to Iceland 0:5 and drew 1:1 with Ukraine in the last 2 games. How do you assess the results of our team in these matches?
– Frankly, I couldn't watch the games live, but I watched the highlights of the matches. The performance of the Azerbaijani national team against Iceland was not good. I think everything was very difficult with Fernando Santos during this period, the players did not fully understand his ideas, which made the situation even more difficult. The change of head coach before the game with Ukraine brought a new spirit. The new head coach managed to motivate the team and the result was better. The Ukrainian national team is a high-level team, a draw with them is a good result.
– When you played in the Azerbaijani national team, you drew 1:1 with Iceland and you scored the goal from a free kick. Compared to that time, has the Icelandic national team become so strong that it can beat us 5:0? Or has the Azerbaijani national team become weaker?
– I think both happened: the Icelandic national team has developed in recent years, and the Azerbaijani national team has regressed significantly.
– Did you expect Fernando Santos's activities in the Azerbaijani national team to be so unsuccessful?
– Every time a new specialist comes to the Azerbaijani national team, I hope that he will win. Unfortunately, Mr. Santos's ideas did not suit the team and the results were much lower than expected.
– Aykhan Abbasov brought out our team for the game with Ukraine and the result was successful. Do you agree that the Azerbaijani national team should be led by a local coach? Who do you consider the best candidate for this position?
– I think that after so many foreign coaches, it is time to give a chance to a local expert who knows Azerbaijani football well. I would mention the name of Tarlan Ahmadov. Aykhan Abbasov himself is also among my candidates, under his leadership the Azerbaijani national team performed very well against Ukraine. My other candidate, Elmar Bakhshiyev, is doing great things in Araz-Nakhchivan.
– How did you react to the news that "Qarabağ" started the main stage of the Champions League with a victory? Did you expect our representative to win in the match against Benfica?
– This victory was a pleasant and joyful surprise for me. "Qarabağ" played a great game and achieved a great victory.
– In your opinion, how many points will "Qarabağ" be able to collect in the Champions League League stage?
– After this great game against Benfica, people's expectations increase. One gets the idea that they can collect a lot of points. I am sure that "Qarabağ" will score at least 12 points in the League stage.
Idman.biz