"Neftchi" lost 1:4 at home to "Zira" in the 30th round of the Misli Premier League. Sport24.az reports that the head coach of the capital club, Samir Abasov, answered journalists' questions at the press conference held after the match:
- Even when "Neftchi" is 3:0 or 4:0 down, the fans are afraid to wait for the end of the game. Does the strength of the team built in the summer reach a part? How do you associate losing while being ahead in the score?
- We know our problems. They say if you know, why don't you solve them? It is a very difficult process. I am talking about the processes that happen in every game. Unfortunately, we have difficulty changing some components. We scored two goals, Agadadash Salyanski came out one-on-one and could have gotten the opponent a red card. Every attack made by the opponent ends with a dangerous episode. We cannot eliminate this. This is reality, we have to say it. We are trying to play with motivation. Today's game that we lost is a confirmation of the problems we mentioned in the processes that took place. We are losing one-on-one fights. There is nothing to hide. Statistics also show everything. There is a cup left as a consolation. We are going to a very difficult game. We don't want to talk too much here by exacerbating the existing problems even more. We have to go to the game that will end this season. In that game, we have to play with a different motivation, as if we are going to the last match of our career. Time will tell. The things we know are happening to us. We have difficulty eliminating them. This season seems very difficult. We can't reveal many things at the press conference.
- Do you believe in a comeback in the cup match with "Sabah"?
- I believe. After the game with "Turan Tovuz", "Sabah" also sees the cup as the last way out. No matter how sad and tragic it is today, we will try to get something good out of it.
- You didn't meet with the fans either. At the end of all this, do you see your role in these defeats?
- That's a very good question. If we want to develop, we must also analyze ourselves. The best way is to see the fault in yourself, criticize yourself, and improve further. The coach is to blame for all defeats. We are to blame for the processes that are happening. But we shouldn't give up. We knew that we were coming in a difficult period, we were taking over a problematic team. We knew that the coach would be seen as the culprit. From such tragic games... It's really a tragedy. We have to draw conclusions.
- Rashad Sadigov said that Samir Abasov has prepared a good team. How would you comment on your colleague's praise?
- Thank you, thank you. I have good relations with all my colleagues. They themselves know what kind of person I am, I don't like to criticize any coach. There are those who bring it up here without shame. Thank God, although there are only a few, there are people in our football who keep their "stance". Like Rashad. Although there are few, there are. We are at work. I pray to God that such people are always at work and work in even higher places.
- "Sumgayit"'s budget is lower than "Neftchi"'s, there players play for lower salaries. Was it difficult to work with them, or with the players of "Neftchi"? In general, has a team been assembled that will be ambitious at the level of "Neftchi"?
- It is more difficult to work in "Neftchi" than in "Sumgayit". In "Sumgayit", apart from the goals of the club, you have ambition as a head coach and you can go that way more easily. You can easily build a plan. Here, however, there is concern that there must be a victory in every game. Even though you didn't assemble and prepare the team. Since this is my second term in "Neftchi", our position is different from the first term. Since I have been through these things, I am used to it, we have come taking everything into account. It is difficult in "Neftchi". When we first went to "Sumgayit", the goal was to stay in the championship, and we coped with it. Then we also went to the Conference League. Although it is difficult in "Neftchi", we are trying. But when it comes to the ambitious issue, no, we are a team far from ambitious.