Maksim Shatskikh: We proved that "Andijan" is not inferior to anyone!

In the Uzbekistan Super Cup final, the Andijan team, which faced Nasaf on the field, showed a much stronger performance than expected. After a narrow defeat, Andijan head coach Maksim Shatskikh attended the post-match press conference and shared his detailed thoughts about the game.

“We accomplished the tasks we planned before the game. I thanked the players for precisely following my instructions. Of course, it’s disappointing that we couldn’t score a goal against the opponent. But I was happy with the players’ enthusiasm on the field and their desire to win. Such important matches give us valuable experience and opportunities for growth in terms of game quality,” said Shatskikh.

The coach noted that the only goal of the match came from a highly controversial penalty: “Indeed, a very strange penalty was given. Conceding a goal in such an important match is painful, but even more upsetting when it comes from a disputed decision. If we had acted more precisely in our attacks, we could have changed the outcome.”

The heavy rain before the game was also discussed. “When I spoke to the players about the weather, I said that it was ideal for football. It was ‘English-style’ weather. In such conditions, it’s possible to play beautiful and fast football. The stadium atmosphere and the active support from the fans gave us extra energy,” added Shatskikh.

When asked why Andijan relied more on long passes in the second half, the coach explained that this was not their game plan: “We never planned to play with long passes. We tried to build our attacks starting from the goalkeeper using short passes. In some moments, due to the opponent’s pressure, our players were forced into long balls. But this is not our style. We will focus on improving this aspect before the next training camp.”

On the issue of missing a “linking midfielder,” the coach clarified: “At the moment, we don’t have high-level players who can perform in that position. We plan to bring in 2-3 quality players during the summer transfer window. Right now, we are trying to achieve the best results with the resources we have.”

Shatskikh also addressed the question of Nasaf players intentionally wasting time at the end of the match: “I don’t support such behavior. The game’s intensity should be maintained. Unfortunately, we have very little clean playing time. Fans come to the stadium to see fast and lively football.”

He also responded to humorous criticism with his own style: “You can compare me to Xavi, who couldn’t win trophies with Barcelona — it doesn’t bother me. The most important thing is that I’m not ashamed of my team’s performance. Our goals are clear — to achieve high results in the league and the AFC Champions League.”

He also confidently shared his thoughts on the national team’s chances of qualifying for the World Cup: “I am one hundred percent sure that our national team will make it to the World Cup. We need to secure that in the match against the UAE. This is the dream of all of us, and we will give our all to achieve it.”

Shatskikh’s comments boosted Andijan fans’ trust in the club. His firm and confident attitude, belief in himself and his team’s potential form a strong foundation for the club’s future success.