The Super League round 16 match between "Neftchi" and "Bunyodkor" was a dramatic and eventful clash that will remain in the memories of fans for a long time. The match, held in a beautiful stadium in Fergana, ended with a 1:2 away victory for "Bunyodkor." After this important game, "Bunyodkor" head coach Ilyos Zeytullaev participated in the press conference and answered several important questions.
— Once again, congratulations to you all, — began the coach. — I sincerely thank the fans for the excellent atmosphere at the stadium. Fergana fans created a very pleasant environment for the match. The game against "Neftchi" was intense and challenging, but we anticipated this and prepared accordingly. This victory is very important to us. I congratulate all my players and staff on this achievement.
When asked about the squad changes in the second half of the season, he said:
— As you can see, our key players — Odil Hamrobekov, Luis Kachorri, and Azizbek Amonov — left the team. Replacing such players immediately is not easy. We discussed this with the management and decided to focus more on our academy talents. We have plenty of capable young players. Of course, this may be a risk, but we aim to achieve results even with youth.
Regarding the controversial incident in the first half that could have led to a red card, Zeytullaev responded:
— Overall, I believe the refereeing in this match was at a good level. In that moment, I personally thought it deserved a red card, but the referees made a different decision. Perhaps they saw the situation differently. We must respect the referees' decisions.
When asked whether the referee being from the valley raised any doubts, the coach emphasized:
— Personally, I never pay attention to where a referee comes from. We are all from Uzbekistan and our goal is to improve football. Referees are people too, gaining experience. In my opinion, the officiating was fair and neutral today.
Zeytullaev was also asked about "Bunyodkor’s" strong results in away matches. He replied:
— Preparing for strong opponents has its own approach. Players get themselves mentally and physically ready. In the next round, we face "Shurtan." I can already feel that it will be a very difficult game. But we are ready and will try to show a good performance again.
Thus, through Ilyos Zeytullaev’s interview, the team’s philosophy, future plans, and trust in the youth striving for success were reflected. The team currently gives its all in every match and earns victories through hard work.
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