Neftchi President: We felt European atmosphere again - INTERVIEW

Baku. 23 April. REPORT.AZ/ Report News Agency presents an interview with Neftchi FC President Kamran Guliyev after the victory over Gabala 1:0 in the XXIV tour match of the Azerbaijan Premier League (APL).

- Your team lost to Gabala in the cup and stayed away from final and closest way to Europa League. After all, did you manage to achieve important victory over the same opponent in the championship?

- First of all, through strong desire to win. Because we still have chances to go to Europe League. Moreover, the team tried to prove that the bitter defeat was casual. As you see, after receiving red card we played half an hour with 10 players. I think we got a deserved win.

- Loss of Zira a day earlier was also an additional stimulus. Because of the victory, it was possible to rise to the 4th position that if Gabala wins the trophy, the owner of this stage will also go to the Europa League. This is a real.

- Of course. To raise to the 4th place, we definitely had to win and we did it through will. We overcame an opponent with the number of goals scored. There were episodes we could score a goal but we did not. It is enough to remember Namik Alasgarov's one-on-one episode. We played against a very strong team. However, our players gave us 3 points. We felt European ‘atmosphere’ again. This tour Qarabag became champion and I want to congratulate them. I want to tell our fans that they should support the team until the end of the championship. Despite the influence of this defeat to all of us, I would like to call our fans to support Neftchi. We are the same people as fans.

- Forza Neftchi fan club was empty, what was the reason?

- We will investigate it. But we know that it is related with the previous game, the cup match.

- Have fans boycotted your game?

- No. it was not about boycott. Maybe because of the issue with the police.

- At present we have a 2-point difference with Sumgayit FC, which is currently in the 3rd place. Everything may happen. Of course, our highest chance is to catch the 3^rd stage. The team will strive for this.

- Neftchi has started transfer works for the new season. What can you say about that?

- I have quite a lot of information and I don’t think it is right to give them all. At this point I wouldn’t like to comment on this matter. There is a player that if we give his name he will leave us to find another club.

- Could you give an information about the progress of the overall work?

- Things are going well.

- You mean, your sports director Jeyhun Sultanov, who reached the European tour has succeeded...

- Jeyhun Sultanov is currently abroad. There is no need to hide it. We can only give information at the end of May.

- Will the head coach issue be clear at that time?

- We do have a head coach.

- Will you continue with Tarlan Ahmadov?

- At the end of the championship contracts with both the players and the head coach will end. This is normal. We have a head coach right now and there is no need to say anything more. You also saw how he prepared the team for the game.