The 6th round of the League phase of the UEFA Champions League has concluded. Unfortunately, the Azerbaijani champion “Qarabağ” lost 2:4 to the Dutch club "Ajax" in Baku, worsening its position in the tournament table.
Before yesterday's match, the vast majority expected a victory from “Qarabağ”. Many hoped that “Qarabağ” would win and move closer to the play-off stage by entering the ranks of clubs occupying 9th-24th place in the tournament table. But this is the Champions League. No points, no victory is easily won here.
Our team is currently in 22nd place with 7 points.
"Qarabağ" will face "Eintracht" (Germany) first, and then "Liverpool" (England) in the last two matches of the League phase.
So why did “Qarabağ” lose? Some football analysts are of the opinion that “Qarabağ” lost due to incorrect substitutions. In particular, many disagree with the introduction of young forward Nariman Akhundzade into the game.
"Qarabağ" head coach Gurban Gurbanov addressed this issue in a statement after the match:
"Unfortunately, there's a lot of discussion about Nariman. I myself don't know what to say about him. If I express any opinion, perhaps I might go against the fans. He could have played better. I have said many times that I stand by my players. And I still do. Camilo Duran sprinted so much, expended so much energy. He was tired. I don't have an answer to comment on the fans' dissatisfaction. Nariman could have played better. Not just him, but those who came on later. I was enjoying watching the game from the sidelines. There was dynamism for 90 minutes. We had watched and analyzed many games recently. Perhaps this was one of the 3 best games. Both teams played bravely, creating many scoring opportunities. We lost. There's nothing more to say."
It is interesting what sports journalists think?
The Modern.az website presents the views of several media representatives:
Anar Shabanoglu - Head of "Sports.az" website:
“Unfortunately, we lost the game we were winning due to our own mistakes.
Just as players and Gurban Gurbanov are praised when the team wins, they should also be criticized when they play superior football for 60 minutes, are ahead in the score, and then lose.
But on condition of not exceeding the limit!
Nariman is young. He comes onto the field when we are winning, and instead of applauding and motivating him, the fans boo him. Naturally, after this, the player might lose himself and not make any useful moves.
Gurban Gurbanov also has a limit for mistakes. In this game, it is somewhat difficult to understand the substitutions and the team pushing forward instead of slowing down the tempo when we were ahead in the score.
But this is that Gurban!
Gurban, who deserves only and solely our thanks for being in these positions, whether we win or lose!
There are two games ahead. Nothing is lost yet. Let's be optimistic.”
Anar Khanlarov – Editor of “Rekord.az” website:
“What a pity, what a great pity. We missed a great chance to solidify our position in the "top 24". Yet everything was going well. True, we conceded an equalizer after the first goal, but by scoring the second goal immediately after the break, we changed the situation in our favor in all aspects. The overall advantage was also on our side; we even had several opportunities to score the 3rd goal. Personally, I believed we could take all 3 points. But...
Gurban Gurbanov is one of the irreplaceable figures for Azerbaijani football; his achievements with "Qarabağ" and what he has brought to the country's football in Europe with "Qarabağ" are undeniable. However, his misplaced insistence, stubbornness, and going against the flow in certain moments lead to such bitter results. At one time, this insistence was related to Shahruddin. Now it seems to be with Nariman. After all, this game was not for Nariman. This was not a decisive substitution at a decisive moment of a decisive game. One wrong substitution destroyed the entire system and the game. Watch it again and you will see how the game changed 180 degrees after the 60th minute. In the 60th minute, despite half an hour remaining until the end of the match, the team's top scorer Leandro Andrade is taken off, and Nariman comes on in his place. One wing of the system breaks here. Nariman is remembered for nothing, he loses all balls that come to him, helping the opponent's defenders. On the other hand, Zoubir is also tired. 5 minutes are enough for the opposing coach to see this; immediately two substitutions are made, Konadu and Reger are thrown into the “battle”. After this, Gurbanov's next substitution, which was not in favor of the flow of the game, saw Duran, one of the best players, sent to the bench, and Kashuk came on in his place. After this, the other wing of the system also breaks. The opposing coach waits another 5 minutes, a brief analysis, and again a double substitution, Klassen and Godts also enter the field. With this, “Ajax”, having turned the game 180 degrees in their favor, started scoring goals one after another 3 minutes later. Why was Andrade substituted, why was Duran substituted, what was Nariman's role in this game? Although “Ajax” was an outsider, it should not be forgotten that this was a Champions League outsider, not an Azerbaijani championship outsider. In other words, we mistook “Ajax” for “Karvan”...”.
Rashad Ergun – Editor-in-chief of “Komanda.az” website:
““Qarabağ" conceded very easy goals. What a pity for the effort expended up to this point. Key players - Zoubir, Andrade, Medina, Jankovic, Kochalski - also played a role in the defeat, as much as the head coach.
As for "Ajax", if this is the team we called “dead”, it's a good thing their "alive" version didn't come to Baku.
And then, Nariman Akhundzade... If winger Camilo Duran, who came from Portugal's 2nd league, sends forward Nariman to the bench and plays in his position, there's nothing more to say. Nariman does not help "Qarabağ"; "Qarabağ" helps Nariman, who has become known by using the club's name. This boy's place is "Shamakhi", "Sumgayit", or what do I know, "Kapaz".”
A.Gorkhmaz
