“I personally consider yesterday's draw a kind of victory.”
This was stated by the renowned coach and football expert Aghasalim Mirjavadov in his statement to Modern.az, commenting on the “Qarabağ” - “Chelsea” match held yesterday in Baku.
According to him, such events could not have happened in Azerbaijani football 10 years ago:
“10-15 years ago, we merely heard the names of such clubs and saw them on television. When playing against them, the main goal was simply not to concede too many goals. This mindset has now completely changed.
Now, each of our clubs has its own playing style and objective, and all of them want to win. I personally evaluate yesterday's draw as a victory. Because we did not fall behind the opponent; in some moments, we were even superior to them.”
A. Mirjavadov particularly praised “Qarabağ”'s performance in midfield:
“The main struggle took place in the midfield. Qarabağ's advantage in their game lies precisely here - retaining possession and building attacks from this zone. We clearly saw this in the match against “Chelsea”. We faced one of the strongest clubs in England, Europe, and perhaps even the world.”
He also noted that “Qarabağ” once again distinguished itself with its playing style and determination:
“At the current stage, the main goal is to collect points, as this is very important for reaching the "play-offs". "Qarabağ" successfully passed this major test.
I also want to congratulate the fans – they supported the team until the very end. "Qarabağ" has now risen to the level of a top club. They are recognized in Europe, and interest in their players is growing.”
A. Mirjavadov also commented on the upcoming “Liverpool” - “Qarabağ” match:
"“Liverpool" is a world champion, a very strong team. But "Qarabağ" is also a team with its own playing style. It's true that the atmosphere will be different – playing in Baku is one thing, playing at "Liverpool"'s stadium is another. "Liverpool"'s stadium is very large, and this has its own impact on the course of the game. Diverging slightly from the topic, I would like to mention that two days ago, "Liverpool" played a very intense match against “Real Madrid”. Whoever scored a goal would control the game, and "Liverpool" won.
"Qarabağ" will also take to the field and play its own game. If everything goes as we wish, we will be one step closer to the play-offs. The main point is that "Qarabağ" is not afraid of anyone and does not play solely defensively. I watched yesterday – they gained superiority in midfield in both the first and second halves, especially after the 60th minute. This once again shows that the team is in very good physical condition.”
Finally, the expert emphasized that the upcoming matches will be even more interesting:
“I looked at the table; many teams have seven points, including “Chelsea”. Now we need to collect more points. Playing against “Liverpool” is difficult, but let's not forget that “Qarabağ” is also a strong team now.”
