"Garadag Lokbatan" is a very well-organized and disciplined team. In the Second League, both "Khankendi" and our opponent proved that they deserved the championship with their performance during the season." These words were said by Tural Jalilov, the captain of "Shimal", a representative of the First League, in his statement to Sport24.az.
The player-coach of the Khachmaz representative shared his expectations from the match with "Garadag Lokbatan", which his team will face in the play-off game for a place in the First League:
"Looking at the opponent's squad, it is possible to see that quality football players prevail. Most of the team are players with Premier League experience, and this is clearly reflected in their playing style. I think that the chances are almost equal in the upcoming match. In such matches, small details, the psychological preparation of the players and calm behavior on the field play a decisive role. We have also prepared very seriously for the game. During the week, we tried to prepare my team both tactically and psychologically. Everyone understands the responsibility and importance of the match. We have fought hard to stay in the First League throughout the season, and we have had difficult times. However, the players did not lose faith until the end and fought until the last round, preserving their play-off chances. In this regard, I am very satisfied with my team. They showed both character and team spirit. At the beginning of the season, our main goal was to stay in the league, and now we only need one step to reach our goal. I believe that my players will fight to the end on the field and make our fans happy. Hopefully, we will get a good result and finish the season as we want."
It should be noted that the play-off match will be held on May 27 in Shamakhi. The match will be broadcast live on CBC Sport and will start at 16:00.