Sergey Lushchan: "The value of every victory is increasing"

Navbahor defeated OKMK by a large score in the 13th round of the Super League – after this match, home team head coach Sergey Lushchan shared his thoughts. Despite the victory, Lushchan openly stated that he was not fully satisfied with the team's play, but he highly appreciated the result. “Today we faced one of the leaders of the championship, OKMK – a rather deep and strong opponent. Many thanks to the guys – they sincerely fulfilled my instructions on the field,” said the experienced specialist.

The specialist also paid special attention to new players, emphasizing that each of the young and experienced ones who joined the squad at the beginning of the season is important for the team. “Every footballer strengthens our unity and spirit. If I had the opportunity, I would invite Messi too, but those who are here now are also acting harmoniously. We have no extra players,” Lushchan says with humor.

Regarding the substitution of Alisher Odilov, which caused heated discussions among fans, the coach also expressed his position: “I do not look at surnames; for me, the main criteria in the game are fight and passion of each player. Based on the situation on the field, I decide who needs to be substituted. When the opponent started attacking from the wing, we were forced to make changes.”

According to Lushchan, the level of teams in the current championship has noticeably increased. “If earlier there were several strong teams, now almost every opponent can put you in a difficult situation. The number of clubs fighting for the championship is 5–6. Many young players are showing themselves on the field, competition in defense and attack has intensified. Even games against teams at the bottom of the standings are not easy.”

Speaking about the upcoming transfers and internal competition, Lushchan gave an interesting answer to rumors about new players: “I hear for the first time about talks concerning Rustam Ashurmatov or Umarali Rakhmonaliyev. We are mainly focused on keeping our current footballers. Moreover, there are talented young players in our U-21 team. All transfers are carried out by agreement of the management and myself. But I personally decide who will take the field.”

The “Navbahor” coach also stressed the importance of trust in young players: “There must be strong competition, but we should not leave our own trainees aside. Every transfer on the market is closely linked to financial and contractual matters. The strongest play, but we also strive to give chances to the youth.”

At the closing stage of the first half of the championship, Lushchan expects the fight for the championship and intrigue to remain until the very end. “It is difficult to determine the clear champion or outsider from now. Even the home 0:0 draw with ‘Dinamo’ in the first round was not obtained easily,” the coach recalled previous matches.

In the upcoming rounds, everyone is interested in what other surprises “Navbahor” will prepare. Sergey Lushchan and his team still face many challenges, but for now, they continue to arouse the interest of fans and analysts. Read 'Zamin' on Telegram!