For “Istanbul Başakşehir”, which added leading and promising stars of the Uzbekistan national team — Eldor Shomurodov and Abbosbek Fayzullaev — to its squad, the new season started very early and in a serious format.
The famous Turkish club returned to European fields and has already begun its participation in the UEFA Conference League qualifying round.
Under the leadership of coach Çağdaş Atan, “Başakşehir” confidently passed the first test, defeating Bulgaria’s “Cherno More” in two matches — 1:0 and 4:0. These results show that the team entered the new season with serious preparation.
Next opponent: “Viking” and synthetic field challenge
Now the Turkish club is awaiting an even stronger opponent — Norway’s “Viking”. This match will start on August 7 at 22:00 Tashkent time.
On the eve of the match, head coach Çağdaş Atan said the following in an interview with journalists:
— This time we will have to play on a synthetic pitch. We haven’t played in such conditions for a long time, and this won’t be easy for us. “Viking” is a physically strong, dynamic team that likes to control the ball. However, we have developed a tactical plan to turn our weaknesses into strengths.
According to Atan, the team is mentally ready, and the players are prepared to give their all until the final whistle.
— We will fight with intensity and take the field in a fighting spirit. In some situations, it will be necessary to act wisely. Our main goal is to return to Istanbul with a positive result, — he said.
Didn’t see Abbosbek Fayzullaev on the pitch? There’s a reason…
The Turkish media and fans are closely following the case of Abbosbek Fayzullaev. Coach Çağdaş Atan gave a clear explanation:
— Fayzullaev has shown his high potential during training. However, since the paperwork for his transfer hasn’t been completed yet, he may not be able to participate in the match against “Viking”. If we complete the registration in time, we might use him in the return leg, — the coach clarified.
New stars and transfer details
“Istanbul Başakşehir” has decided to seriously strengthen its squad this summer. Eldor Shomurodov joined the club on a one-year loan from “Roma”, and according to the agreement, the transfer may become permanent.
Abbosbek Fayzullaev is considered a major investment by the Turkish club — according to the agreement with CSKA, 7.5 million euros were paid for him. The 21-year-old footballer also signed a full five-year contract with “Başakşehir”.
Uzbek mark among Istanbul’s intense Europeans
“Başakşehir”, which finished last season in fifth place in the Turkish Super League, is aiming for high results not only in the domestic championship but also on the international stage. Undoubtedly, Uzbek stars like Shomurodov and Fayzullaev will play an important role in this.
In which match will the new heroes make history? The answer — soon, on European stages!
Read 'Zamin' on Telegram!
