In the Tashkent derby, Pakhtakor once again spoke its word. In the match of the 27th round of the Super League, the "Lions" defeated "Bunyodkor" with a score of 4:2, preserving their chances in the championship race. Following the match, Pakhtakor head coach Kamoliddin Tojiyev answered journalists' questions at a press conference, according to championat.asia.
At the beginning of his speech, the coach expressed satisfaction with the team's performance:
"We started the match well, even managed to open the scoring in the first five minutes. We played the first half with almost complete dominance. Honestly, the score could have been 5:0. At the beginning of the second half, there was a slight decline - perhaps the guys were somewhat physically tired or prematurely succumbed to the feeling of victory. But then we found our game again and determined everything with the fourth goal."
To the question "Didn't the team fall asleep?" Tojiyev answered openly:
"True, there was a little calmness at the beginning of the second half. However, during the break, I told my players that the game wasn't over yet and that they shouldn't give up. But football is such that a momentary lack of attention changes the situation. Despite this, the guys composed themselves in the next few minutes and took control of the game."
Journalists also asked questions about physical condition. "Pakhtakor" recently played in the Cup final and lost a lot of strength. Therefore, some expected fatigue from the team, but this did not happen.
"We are seriously preparing for every game. We also put in a lot of effort in the cup final, but this didn't spoil the guys' morale. They know how to play every match for victory. As for the replacements, I don't think we delayed. Due to the current schedule and tight calendar, we'll have to give some players a break. "Therefore, we rotated some positions," said Tojiyev.
The coach also commented on the championship race:
"I say this after each round - Pakhtakor will fight until the end. We have confidence, the team is in a good mood. As you can see from the current games, the guys are fighting for every point. We will try until the end, time will tell."
Tojiyev also touched upon some of the players. In particular, he spoke about the game of Khojiakbar Alijonov and Igor Sergeev:
"Hojiakbar played brilliantly today. He is performing at a high level in recent matches. This footballer is growing as a leader not only at the club, but also at the national team. Speaking of Sergeev, he's a striker who can take advantage of even a single opportunity. He didn't score a goal today, but his activity on the field and contribution to teamwork were significant."
At the conference, the coach was also asked about rumors that two of Nasaf's leaders might move to Pakhtakor. He answered this question with a smile:
"You'll see what happens in winter. It's too early to talk about this now. Let's finish the year, then everything will become clear."
Thus, Kamoliddin Tojiyev, after an important victory over Bunyodkor, instilled confidence in the team and the fans. Pakhtakor secured third place with 55 points, maintaining their chances in the championship race. Fans, however, expect similar matches in the matchdays following the Lions.
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