“We had only one option — to protect the victory”: What did Ismoilov say after the glorious win?

Uzbekistan U-17 Head Coach Islombek Ismoilov Shares His Thoughts After the Historic Victory.

After returning home with the title of Asian champions, Uzbekistan U-17 national team head coach Islombek Ismoilov gave his first statement following the major win. According to him, this triumph belongs not only to the team, but to the entire nation.

“A great honor and a big achievement”
“Of course, this is a great recognition and a huge success for us. As the head coach, I want to thank everyone. Many people worked hard for this victory. I’m deeply grateful to them all. It’s impossible to describe what I’m feeling right now,” said Ismoilov.

“After we were down to 9 men, we had only one way forward”
The coach also reflected on the dramatic moment in the final when two players were sent off:

“After the first half, we were left with just nine players. There was no other choice. There was only one path — to save the game and fight for the win. I believe we found the right solution together with the coaching staff. The players showed great resilience, and we achieved victory.”

“The red cards had an impact, but we never lost belief”
Ismoilov also emphasized how important the team’s mental preparation was:

“Of course, the two red cards had an effect. But as a coach, I tried not to fall into despair. During halftime, we worked hard to lift the players’ spirits — and we succeeded.”

What do you think — can Islombek Ismoilov manage the senior national team in the future? Did you like his strategy and courage? Read 'Zamin' on Telegram!