Sport24.az
"It was a dynamic and fast-paced game. Our opponent's performance in the last 12 rounds is commendable. If I'm not mistaken, "Gabala" is one of the teams in our championship with the most scoring opportunities. They like to play with the ball. We tried to play our own football today. Our game was better in the first half, and we scored a goal. We didn't give the opponent a scoring opportunity. We know they have established combinations. We were thwarting them. But if you don't score a second goal against a team with such a tenacious and established game after the 70th minute, the ending will be difficult. That's what happened today. We gave away numerous free kicks in the end. The most dangerous episodes were after set pieces. We were thwarting the opponent in the game plan. I congratulate my players. This game once again showed the level of our championship and what kind of games await us this season. The opponents are fighting confidently. No one gives up easily. All matches are held in a tenacious game environment. It is impossible to predict what the score will be until the last minutes. We will try to withstand this competition. We will have a game with "Kapaz". We will focus on that match."
Sport24.az reports that these words were said by the head coach of "Zira" Rashad Sadigov at the press conference held after the 12th round of the Misli Premier League game with "Gabala".
He also answered questions from journalists.
- Two penalties were awarded in the first half, none of which were seen by the main referees. Penalties were only awarded after VAR intervention. What would have happened if there was no VAR?
- You know, when there is VAR, the main referee also makes decisions more easily. He knows he has insurance. Maybe if there was no VAR, he would have made his own decision. Both penalties were difficult episodes. There was no chance to see it. There were a lot of petty fouls. Elvin is our young referee, he is gaining new experience in the Premier League. We also tried to support him during the game and not put too much pressure on him. He did not make a mistake that affected the outcome of the game.
- Was the penalty that "Gabala" could not use the breaking point of the game?
- The course of the game showed that it was perhaps the breaking point. But if we had conceded a goal, a different game would have been played on the field in the second half. A goal changes the game and the course. We scored a goal, we were worried about the result in the 2nd half. If we had conceded a goal, we would have gone forward with greater force. I can never call a missed penalty in the 30th minute the breaking point of the game. If it was in the last minutes, it would naturally be the breaking point. I am really watching with admiration the team created by Kakhaber Tskhadadze and the football he plays.
- You will face "Kapaz", and then your opponent in the national cup is "Neftchi". Taking this into account, do you have any plans to rotate the squad in the game against "Kapaz"?
- No, we are primarily interested in the game with "Kapaz". They will host us in Yevlakh. Frankly, there are many disappointing moments this season. I would very much like it to be different. I don't know whether it comes from necessity or compulsion. "Turan Tovuz" played with many teams we compete with in Baku. They will host us twice in Tovuz. "Imishli" played with some teams in Shamakhi, and hosted us in Guba. "Kapaz" played in Gabala, in a different atmosphere, away from their fans. Now they will play in Yevlakh. Yesterday we ourselves saw how eager "Kapaz" was there, how aggressively they played. This is not just about "Kapaz", "Imishli" and "Turan Tovuz". I'm just saying that we should set rules and follow them so that the rules are not violated. Because this clearly affects the competition. I'm not saying anything. If any team has changed its stadium out of necessity, let them host all their opponents there. And they will change in the third round. That would be fairer. Many teams played with "Kapaz" in Gabala. We have to play in Yevlakh. We saw that "Kapaz" is completely different in Yevlakh.
