Gurban Gurbanov: “President’s call gave me high motivation” – 2024-03-09 21:43:44

The head coach of “Qarabag” Gurban Gurbanov gave an interview to “Anadolu” state agency of Turkey.

Publika.az reports that the 52-year-old specialist first spoke about his arrival to “Karabakh”. He noted that while receiving the team, the owner of the “Garabagh” club, Abdolbari Gozal, told him that “I promised Heydar Aliyev that I would promote this team in Europe”, which gave him great motivation:

“We started our activity with this motivation. Although we did not win the championship in my first year, we won the Azerbaijan Cup. We were able to reach the UEFA play-offs (the play-offs of the qualification stage of the Europa League – ed.). This was a big achievement for that period. was a success”.

Gurbanov said that after qualifying for the Euroleague playoffs, President Ilham Aliyev called him, which gave him high motivation (this call was made in 2009, after “Qarabag” beat Honka (Finland) in the third round and qualified for the playoffs) was done later – ed.).

The 51-year-old specialist then said: The name “Karabakh” is of great importance for Azerbaijanis. We have done good work with the club management to keep this name alive. Thankfully, we are seeing its results now. We work with responsibility and from the heart.”

The experienced coach told the legionnaires of the team that they also explained the importance of the name Karabakh: “Our main motivation is the name of our team, “Karabagh”. After the Second Karabakh War, our foreign players understood the importance of this name better.”

Gurban Gurbanov also touched on the match in the 1/8 finals of the Azerbaijan Cup with MOIK in Khankendi: “It was a very big day. President Ilham Aliyev and his wife Mehriban Aliyeva also watched the match. The children of the martyrs were also there. It was an unforgettable day.”

The “Order of Fame” coach said that the game in Khankendi is the beginning of the matches to be held in the regions freed from occupation: “A stadium will be built in Aghdam. Our team will also return there in the end.”

Gurbanov expressed great interest in “Garabagh” from Turkey as well: “As an Azerbaijani, the son of a Turk, I thank them (the Turkish people). We are really brothers and we have always been by each other’s side – both in our happy and sad days. To the Turkish people I have great respect and trust. They see us as their team. Many Turkish fans support us in our away games.”

The head coach of the Aghdam club also touched upon the match they will play against Germany’s Bayer in the 1/8 finals of the Europa League: “We will face a strong opponent. We know Bayer. We faced each other in the group games and lost both games. It is one of the best teams in Europe.” The arrival of such teams to Azerbaijan will be of great benefit to the love of football in Azerbaijan. Even though it is a strong opponent, we are happy. We will play against a great team again. Our players will feel that great football, speed and dynamism. The fans will also enjoy the game. We may lose, but without a fight on the field. we will not leave”.

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