Baku. 20 December. REPORT.AZ/ “This is my first meeting with you as a head coach of Azerbaijan national football team. I’d like to go directly to questions.”
Report informs, the head coach of Azerbaijan national team Gurban Gurbanov said at today's press conference. 45-year-old coach answered the questions of reporters at the event held in Bayil Arena.
- Is it symbolic that your first match will be played with Georgian national team?
- Yes, it is symbolic. But perhaps one match will be held in the beginning. The talks are going on.
- New head coaches were appointed for national teams for all age groups. Which qualities do you find in them?
- It was difficult for us to make a decision. Rashad Sadigov is a leader of my team. He has a great experience. We came to decision to raise coaches. Other head coaches have great experience as coach assistants.
- How many demonstration matches will be played before the Nations League?
- We want to play as more matches as possible. Our first camp training will be in January. Afterwards we will have camp trainings in March and May. Then World Cup is coming. We will try to make the team ready for upcoming qualification cycle.
- Will you continue the nationalization policy?Do you plan to engage footballers such as Deniz Yilmaz and Eddi Israfilov to the national team?
- We should find good players. When needed, we will also do that. We will follow each footballer. We may make change in each game. Every footballer will be given a chance. Perhaps someone won’t be invited.
- Robert Prosinečki was not inviting footballers in lower leagues to the national team. For instance, Renat Dadashov. Will you act the same way?
- Of course we would like our footballers be ready. Some of them don’t play in the main squad. However, you might see some names there.
- There is a probability that Rauf Aliyev may be left without club after winter. Will you try to resolve this issue?
- This issue does not depend on me. Law is law. I think he can play for Keshla. I was very disappointed for that.
- Artificial fields are problems for child football. What can you say about that?
- There is playing fields with artificial surface everywhere in Europe. But after certain age period it is necessary to not to play on such fields. It is easy to build and maintain fields with artificial grass. We have agreed that all the teams in the Premier League will play on the fields with natural grass surface
- Your salary is very often discussed in the media. What can you say about that?
- Financing issue is not so important for me. I did not have conversation with leadership about salary. I want with pride to serve for Azerbaijani football and national team. The most important thing is that my and my thoughts are healthy. Nothing is more important than that. If I am appreciated at this level today, this is an important earning for me.
At this point the AFFA Secretary General Elkhan Mammadov added: "The terms of the agreement may be disclosed or remain confidential”...
- Will you refuse from your principles by engaging nationalized players to problematic positions?
- I really want the development of Azerbaijani footballers. But it is important by whom they are. When I started to work for Qarabag there was only one legionary Admir Telli.But laster we invited additional players. Maybe if I had played with locals you would acclaim me. Yes, there are problems in some positions. In the last matches four central defenders were injured. I think you will normally regard that. I want to achieve success along with Azerbaijani footballers. But if needed, naturalization can also happen. We don’t know when Badavi Huseynov will play. Yes, it is said 6 months, but it used to happen that two footballers returned one year later.
- What AFFA leadership expects from you and what did you promise to them?
- If there is a chance in Nations League we should seize that. But we also used to have good financial resources. Particularly I mean our clubs. But some part of them don’t exists anymore. Why? Because they wanted to reach everything very quickly. It should be stage by stage. Today we have problems with parents of the footballers. They hamper their development. We also should form the parent in the right way. I have been in the camp training of Chelsea. They also had serious problems in this regard. They organized meeting with parents. It is necessary to make people love the club and care about that. Footballer should also develop as a personality.
- There are different thoughts about the limit. What is your opinion?
- Different options used to make every system stable. AFFA also took different steps. Today I would not be able to say something concrete. They will think about for next season. We will discuss it in the first meeting next year. It is possible that tomorrow the decision will be completely different. We respect the decision of each club.
- AFFA President Rovnag Abdullayev said that one club will qualify for Premier League and one club will be left beyond. But as far as we know one of your conditions is to have 10-12 teams in the Premier League…
- I think Rovnag Abdullayev meant the previous seasons. I was in favor of more teams. If there will be such buying and selling in the first Division, it would be better not to have the first Division. It is better to have 5 teams but they should be healthy. I did not suggest the condition you mentioned. If needed, we will try to hold championship with 10-12 teams.
- Artificial grass fields are one of the main problems. How it can be solved?
- Chelsea has 32 fields with natural surface, 2 fields with artificial grass. They use 28 of them. Nevertheless, they sat that we have a problem. Now imagine how the situation with us. It is impossible for us to change everything so quick. Financial issue is essential.
- Will you rely on Kamran Aghayev who is known for non-stable playing?
- I would like to have not just one but several goalkeepers. I also added Rashad Azizli. There are also other candidates. Salahar Agayev and Anar Nazirov are injured. We have small selection of players. We will invite available deserved players. The human qualities of the footballer of national team should also be high. I attach great importance to that. The member of national team is an example. The footballer with bad behavior won’t play in national team.
- Is it likely for us to play with Armenian national team in the Nations League?
- If I am not mistaken, this can only happen in the final. No one would wish to play with an enemy. Regardless of which team will be our rival without thinking about that we will try to seize even the small chance we have.
- Is there possibility for you to seperate from Qarabağ?
- If I am not mistaken I still have contract with the club for year and a half. Yes, it is difficult. There is no decision to leave Qarabag.
- May your position as a head coach of the national team at some point lead to conflict of interests? If Qarabag become weak, what steps will you take for the interests of national team?
- We should not refuse from principles of Qarabag. From other side, national team member should play for in the club of his country. We never created obstacles for players who received offer from abroad. I am glad for that. But for the interests of national team players won’t be sent from the club. Every work has its own duty. If they don’t make difficulty to my work in Qarabag, we would not mind leaving of 1-2 footballers.
- How is the situation with naturalization of Yaroslav Deda?
- No decision made on this. I will take him for winter camp training with main team. If he gives benefits to Azerbaijani football, we will think about taking such step in line with a law. Such practice exists everywhere. For now, we don’t have a plan to naturalize him.
- Is it possible to change the captaincy of Rahid Amirguliyev in the national team?
- Rahid is an example for all players. I wish other players behaved themselves as him both in the football and beyond. His playing in the national team and captaincy is not todays’ issue. We should review that during camp training. It is possible that we won’t change the captain. He may be changed after some period.
- How will be reward system is the national team?
- There was no discussion regarding that. I don’t want the given reward become known. We will try everything to be decent.
- After you were appointed, Ayaz Guliyev from Moscow Spartak said he is ready to talk with you for playing in the team….
- There are certain footballers. Ayaz is one of them. Perhaps he was not informed. From 2018 we will thoroughly deal with that issue.
Elkhan Mammadov: "I have met with him two years ago. We keep in touch. But the final decision will be made not by Ayaz, but Gurban Gurbanov.”
- My question is to the Elkhan Mammadov. By which head coach do you feel more confident yourself?
- I will be short, with Gurban Gurbanov. Because he is Azerbaijani. The specialist coming from abroad is a surprise. Gurban Gurbanov is manager-coach. He thinks not only about the field, but also about the surrounding of football which corresponds to modern demands.