Saša Ilić after the game with "Zira": I wouldn't say we lost because of the defense line

"It was an interesting game, we saw beautiful goals. In the end, we lost."

Sport24.az reports that these words were said by "Sumgayit" head coach Saša Ilić at the press conference held after the match of the 19th round of the Misli Premier League with "Zira".

He also answered journalists' questions.

- You played with an experimental defense line. To what extent did this affect your defeat? 

- I congratulate Vusal Pashayev, he played very well. He can be a very important player for the club in the future. I don't think this result is related to the changes in defense. We changed Ryan's position. Because we did it so that he would be in the necessary places in standard situations. At certain moments he seemed more tired, but that's normal. I wouldn't say that we lost because of the defense line. We do not consider the first goal we conceded as a mistake of the defense line. The second goal was a magnificent free kick. In the third goal, there was somewhere a mistake of the defense line. But this is football, so I wouldn't put full responsibility on the defense line.

- What is the reason for Rustam Ahmadzada's recent reserve status? He appears more often later...

- He is also a very important player for our team. Rustam had an injury, so he couldn't train for a week. Until he regains his form, he can enter the field later. Of course, we will look at it in training this week. If he is fully fit, we will see him on the field in the starting lineup from next week.

- Your reserve bench is scarce. There are many matches ahead. To what extent will this create a problem for you?

- Actually, 2 of our players are also injured. If they also join the game, it will be a little easier. We will make maximum use of the existing players in the future.

- Your only victory in the second part of the season was recorded in the match with "Karvan-Yevlakh". In addition, you also lost to your opponents in the winter training camp. Don't you think that the winter training camp was ineffective and there is a decline in the team's performance? Can this be linked purely to the training camp, or were the opponents not chosen correctly?

- It was my own wish in the training camp to play with teams that play in a stronger championship than us. Moreover, the result of the games during preparation is not important for me. I don't think our training camp was weak.