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An interview with Riad Rafiyev, the president of Sumgayit, to Futbolxeber.az
- Your team won 4:1 against Sabail in the last round of the championship. How do you assess the completed season for Sumgayit?
- It was a terrible season for Sumgayit. We must say this openly. We will finish the season in a place that is not suitable for our club. It doesn't matter whether it's 8th or 9th place. At the beginning of the season, our goals were completely different. Therefore, God willing, the next season will be many times more successful.
- What was missing?
- There were many reasons. We know these. I wouldn't want to talk about it in detail now. God willing, we will stay away from those mistakes next season.
- To what extent did the unplanned head coach change at the beginning of the season affect the failure?
- Of course, this factor had a big impact.
- What's new regarding the appointment of a head coach?
- There is nothing new at the moment. We are not in a hurry. There is a lot of time for the next season. There is no place for us to rush.
- But you can't be late either...
- No, we won't be late. There is still time. An official statement regarding the head coach issue will be made in the near future.
- Local or foreign?
- Both can be.
- If we take it as a percentage, to what extent will Sumgayit's squad change in the new season?
- I can't say it as a percentage, but of course there will be changes. Unequivocally.
- Have negotiations already started with the leading players whose contracts are expiring, or are you waiting for the appointment of a new head coach?
- There are players with whom we do not need to wait for an appointment to extend the contract. We must say this openly. There are players we want to leave and stay in the team.
- Are there players you have agreed with among those you want to stay?
- There are those we have agreed with, those we are negotiating with, and those we have not spoken to at all. Those who had a very weak season will not stay in the team.
- If we ask, I guess you won't reveal the names...
- It would not be right for me to reveal the names.
- The names of some Sumgayit players are constantly mentioned with other clubs. In general, have you received any official offers for any player recently?
- Yes, there have been. But I wouldn't want to name which club and which player it was.
- The result?
- We didn't agree.
- It is said that AFFA will cut half a million manats from the 3 million manats that the state allocates to each club. What is your attitude to this?
- There are such rumors, we hear them. However, until now, no official information has been given by AFFA about this. If this really happens, it will be a big blow for us as well. We wouldn't want it to be like that. We hope that the amount will remain the same as in the completed season.
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