Norwegian footballer transferred to Azerbaijan's Qarabag: I admit to lying - INTERVIEW

Baku. 18 September. REPORT.AZ/ The footballer of Azerbaijan\s Qarabag FC Tarik Elyunussi following the victory over “Kapaz” with 2:0 score in the sixth tour of Azerbaijan Premier League has answered questions of reporters. 

Report News Agency presents an interview with midfielder of Norwegian national team:

- In your debut match in Azerbaijan Premier League (APL) the number of fans were quite few. Did not it surprise you?

- My expectations were different but coming of small number of fans to match is not a big problem. Of course, I regret that the numbers of fans were small. But our job is to play and win. The better results you get, the more supporters will come.

- What is your personal target in Qarabag FC?

- My aim is to help the team to gain victory. I am a team player. I feel better when I fight together. I want to achieve successful results here. Of course it would be better to beat goal and give resultful passes. It is a bonus. Along with Qarabag, I want to win the championship of the country. Apart from this I target to do my best in Champions League and get great experience.

- What did you know about Azerbaijan and its football before?

- I have been here twice before. I liked Baku a lot and I am also aware of football here. I have also heard about Qarabag. Because in the Europa League the Aghdam club has played twice with my former team Norwegian “Rosenborg”. Though I did not participate in those matches, I am quite informed. Qarabag always plays in the country championship. I also followed the matches of the group stage of the Europa League. Qarabag is a great club of Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan is a new country for me. I come across here with different culture and traditions. This is experience for me which will help me in future.

- You told that found out about transferring to Qarabag after the match when you were in the national team of Norway playing with Azerbaijan national team as part of 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification. You said that before the match you did not have any information about that. Was it indeed so?

- Yes, during that period I was negotiating with Qarabag. I thought speaking about that in advance will prevent me from focusing on the game. I admit to lying. Sometimes in certain circumstances you are forced to take such step. The match with Azerbaijan was very important for us. I could not distract my thought. That’s why I did not tell anything about negotiating with another team. Moreover, before the game everything was not completely solved. If there was complete solution, I would have given statement. Since it became clear after the match, initially I had to speak differently.

- You came to Qarabag from such strong club as “Olympiacos” of Greece. What was the reason for choosing the Aghdam club?

- Being frankly in “Olympiacos” my work was not going so well. Our summer break happened to be short. I have rested only 10 days and joined the training a bit late. Moreover, several football players were brought for my position. As far as I understood the head coach did not think about involving me in main team. It would have been more difficult for me. That is why I had to make such decision. I could not lose my chance to play in the Champions League. It was my dream. I believe that I did not make a mistake by coming here and I can achieve great results in Qarabag. Qarabag is a major club. When I got the offer I did not miss it.

- Greek fans are known for their passion. Were you surprised to see the tribunes in Azerbaijan empty?

- I knew about the ability of Qarabag fans to support till the end. From the messages I got on social media I felt that they love me here. After the big loss to “Chelsea” their support to Qarabag is commendable. Everyone was telling me “Don’t pay attention at score, everything will be fine”. Even though only two thousand fans came to match with “Kapaz” it was important that they supported till the end. This is more important than the number.

- You have the contract with Qarabag till the end of the season. Do you think about extending it?

- It’s too early to speak about this. I just play my first match.