Report.az
The main goal of "Zira", which will represent Azerbaijan in the Champions League in minifootball, is to play in the final.
This was stated by the team's head coach Elshad Guliyev in an interview with "Report".
The specialist also spoke about the preparation process:
"I don't think it will be easy. Because strong teams participate. Almost all of them have national team members in their squad. We will try to pass the group stage with good results. Our main goal is to get out of the group without losses and advance to the Champions League final. As for the preparation process, we started training a month and a half ago, we have finished physical training. We will try to hold test matches with "Birbasha Baku" and "Aznur" this weekend. From next week, we intend to increase the number of such matches and complete the staff. It would be relatively easier for us if the Azerbaijan championship started earlier. I hope that the Minifootball Federation will take this into account in the future. When the team goes to the competition after a few games, it is in better shape".
The coach expressed his concern about the games being held on a tight schedule:
"The games will be held on a tight schedule, that is, in a short period of time. Therefore, I think we will have difficulties. The situation is the same for other clubs as well. It is a format we do not want. We are thinking of raising this issue with the organizers. If we get out of the group, we will have to play two games every day. A great burden will fall on the field players in the squad. We are preparing well, we have all kinds of conditions. We have taken young football players into the team. We have renewed almost 50 percent of the team. We want to form a faster team and bring young players to the national team in the future. Our team is new, but in any case, despite the difficulties, our goal is to play in the final. We are strong enough to cope with them".
He also evaluated the opponents in the group:
"The Slovak team in our group is strong. We know their players. The basis of the squad is made up of national team members. We have had several difficult games against the Slovak team at the national team level. The Israeli club is also good. But we do not know the Hungarian representative and we have no information about their squad. In general, I would not say that the opponents are stronger than us".
E.Guliyev emphasized that other Azerbaijani clubs "Birbasha Baku" and "Aznur" also fell into a difficult group:
"In my opinion, "Birbasha Baku" from the Azerbaijani teams is in the most difficult group. "Aznur" also does not have weak opponents. Among the teams they will face, there is also a Spanish representative. In general, all three groups are difficult".
It should be noted that "Zira" will face "Red Meat Afula" (Israel), "MF 22 Jakmart Humenne" (Slovakia) and "Budapest" (Hungary) clubs in Group C.
The Champions League will be held from September 17 to 21 at the Boyana Football Center in Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria.
minifootball Champions League "Zira" club group final
