After the 18th round Super League match, which drew great interest among fans, “Neftchi” — “Nasaf” (1:0), the head coach of the Kashkadarya team, Ruzikul Berdiev, shared his thoughts at the press conference.
The experienced coach first spoke about the game, emphasizing that today the “Neftchi” team acted truly heroically, applying a tight and tough defensive style, and in this way managed to secure an important victory. According to him, “Nasaf” had initiative and attacks, but especially in the final stage, there was a lack of composure and skill in converting chances into goals.
Berdiev noted that “Nasaf” had the initiative both when the opponent played with a full squad and after they were reduced to ten men. However, luck ultimately turned away, and the result was not as expected. “If we had won, our position in the standings would have significantly improved. I have no serious complaints about the players, but we expected more accuracy and composure from our forwards,” he said. He also added that he had expressed protest regarding the episode when Zafarmurod was fouled inside the penalty area.
Answering the question of why, as the reigning champion, the team has not been lucky in recent matches, Berdiev said: “We ourselves are a bit surprised. Opponents are applying a tight and multi-layered defensive tactic against us, which is not easy to break through. Even at home against ‘Andijan’ the same situation occurred. This is, of course, unpleasant, but everything is in our hands. The season is ongoing, and we will prepare seriously for the next matches.”
To the question of whether Akmal Mozgovoy’s departure weakened the midfield, the coach replied: “Akmal’s departure is already history. We must strive toward our goal with the players we have. Sardor and Murod in midfield are not making his absence felt. In football, if someone leaves, it opens the way for another player to emerge. We have high hopes for our youth.”
Berdiev also noted the strengths of “Neftchi”: “They mainly rely on defense. Today was the same. When they were left with one man less, they paid even more attention to defense, leaving only one player in attack, while the rest mainly focused on wasting time and preserving the score. This brought them the desired result.”
For the fans, this match and Berdiev’s words once again showed that in football, along with skill on the field, psychological preparation and luck also play a major role. That is why “Nasaf’s” actions in the upcoming matches will be followed with even greater interest.
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