Gurban Gurbanov: Arsenal took right step by not bringing Mkhitaryan to Baku

Baku. 3 October. REPORT.AZ/ "We will play against the team which competes in the strongest championship of the world. There are very serious coaches in England. We are well prepared. We do not need any additional comments. We will try to demonstrate a good performance by playing bravely ".

Report informs that Qarabag’s head coach Gurban Gurbanov made the aforementioned statement before the home match against England's Arsenal in the second round of the Europa League group stage.

The 46-year-old specialist answered journalists' questions at a press conference held at the Olympic Stadium in Baku ...

What do you think about Henryk Mkhitaryan's missing the match against Qarabag: Is this the advantage for us?

- I would not want football to be mixed with politics. But sometimes it is impossible without it. In such cases, each club wants to keep its own footballer, they do not want additional rumors. We faced such cases in sport. There were athletes who came and were welcomed here. Of course, there were pressures, and this is normal. There are people who lost their dears in the war. They cannot keep their emotions. If the pressure comes from 10 or 15 people at once, it is an objection. That's why the club has taken the right step. Mkhitaryan's absence is good for all of us.

Do you give a chance to Abbas Huseynov or Ansi Agolli in Donald Gerry's absence?

-  Not just Gerry,  several of our footballers do not play. I know the staff approximately. But we still have time. The final decision is to be made in the game tomorrow.

- Will Qarabag be able to score a goal to Arsenal?

- The visit of such clubs to Azerbaijan is a great practice for the country's football and for us and a chance to love football. We have played such big clubs and even had successful meetings.

- What about the psychological state?

- Everything is normal. Our players have a great experience. I think there will be no psychological problem.

- English media write that Arsenal will play with the reserve team. Is it good for our team?

- I don't think any Arsenal player can be considered a reserve team. We know well that we are playing Arsenal.

- The stadiums were half-empty during the matches with Kukesi and Sheriff. But this time everything is expected to be different. Do you think the name of the rival team is most important for fans?

- The interest in bigger clubs is always different. The fans feel it and want to see those clubs. We also show a great interest in big clubs. But we never think only about full stadiums. We have a great number of fans. I know so many fans who do not come to the stadiums but are our devoted fans.

- What if you played Chelsea again this season?

- Chelsea has a different coach know, they play differently. I do not want to distinguish the English clubs. They are all at the same level.