UEFA Champions League 3rd Qualifying Round – Qarabağ head coach Gurban Gurbanov remains cautious about Shkëndija

In the second leg of the UEFA Champions League third qualifying round, Qarabağ will host Shkëndija. Staying true to tradition, Qarabağ head coach Gurban Gurbanov spoke cautiously about the opponent. Despite winning the first match, Gurbanov reminded everyone that the opponent is ambitious and plays combative football:

“We must try to play with great discipline. I’ve spoken with the players. It will be a good, interesting match. Based on the first game’s result, both teams deserve to win. We have a slight advantage, we are ahead.”

Despite the victory, Gurbanov confirmed that his opinion of Shkëndija has not changed ahead of the second leg:

“Everyone thought that FCSB would win, but Shkëndija won instead. They achieved it with their fighting spirit and character. We witnessed it on the pitch as well. My impressions remain the same. Tomorrow we must be a very mobile team. We must know how to stand firm.”

During the press conference, questions were also directed toward Qarabağ players Kady Borges and Emmanuel Addai. In response to a journalist’s claim that Kady played “undisciplined and unmotivated” in the first game, Gurbanov disagreed, noting the strength of the opponent and adding that, in general, ball losses have increased in European football.

Regarding claims that Addai “does not follow the regimen and does not pay attention to his diet,” Gurbanov gave a more lighthearted answer:

“He came from a different regimen into Azerbaijani cuisine. Our food is truly delicious, and he enjoys it. We have given him some small fines. But lately, everything is in order. I’ve gone through this myself — when your appetite grows, you want to eat good food. He’s gone through a lot of changes; it’s not a serious problem. Many things are improving.”