The Pakhtakor vs. Qizilqum match, part of the first round of the Uzbekistan Super League, ended in a convincing 2-0 victory for the hosts. Following the match, Lions head coach Kamoliddin Tojiyev participated in a press conference, providing detailed information on the game details, tactical decisions, squad matters, and the team's future plans. From his words, it became clear that although "Pakhtakor" started the first step with a result, this victory was not easy.
Tojiyev first focused on the opponent's defensive style. He noted that "Kyzylkum" defended mainly with 10 players, and it was very difficult to break through such a closed game. Because of this, the hosts couldn't attack as freely as they wanted in the first half. However, after the break, the team faced a different task, and as a result, "Pakhtakor" started creating more dangerous situations. At the end of the match, the coach congratulated the team on the victory and emphasized that the team played 120% today. This phrase shows how satisfied he was with the players.
At the press conference, a question was also raised about the selection of strikers in "Pakhtakor." The journalist recalled that the club has only two center-forwards and asked if this would cause problems in the future. Answering this question, Kamoliddin Tojiyev said that in the winter, the club considered three strikers, and in the end, the selection stopped at the Petr variant. In his opinion, today's debate has proven that this decision was correct. At the same time, coach Doston Hamdamov emphasized that he can play in attack, and Oybek also has the opportunity to move forward, noting that there is no cause for concern. According to him, there are at least two options for each position.
It was also clarified about some of the club's negotiations in the transfer market. Journalists asked why Pakhtakor held negotiations with a Paraguayan forward and Portuguese player Joao Costa, but these transfers did not happen. According to Tojiev, the Portuguese footballer was unable to undergo a medical examination due to an injury. The Paraguayan player refused to come to Uzbekistan. This means the club has considered options, but not every decision has been finalized for certain reasons.
There were also questions about injuries in the team. Tojiyev admitted that Flamarion and Bo'riyev have minor problems. According to him, Buriev is on the bench today, which means his condition is not serious. Flamarion had caught a cold. From this information, it is clear that despite some losses, the team is still able to overcome these problems due to the depth of the squad.
When asked about Hojiakbar Alijonov's condition, the coach stated that he had injured his knee. The severity of the injury will be determined after further examinations. This is certainly a matter of concern for the fans, as it appears that many of the team's attacks were orchestrated through Alijonov before he left the field. To the question of whether this was a deliberately chosen plan, Tojiyev answered quite clearly. According to him, the main instruction was to play football, to organize attacks with passes from the wings, but there was no special task that all attacks should go through Alijonov.
When discussing the competition between midfielders and wingers, the coach said there are no difficulties in this regard. In his opinion, the championship is long, and there are also ACL and Cup matches ahead. Therefore, all players in the team will have game practice. This means that Pakhtakor has high internal competition and every player is given the opportunity to prove themselves.
Tojiyev also gave a clear answer to the question of whether Turdimurodov would become the main striker or whether a foreign player would be the first choice. According to him, all 18-20 players in the team are key players. The coach stated that he doesn't want to consistently highlight any particular player as the main one. This shows that when choosing a squad, he relies not on the name, but on the situation and preparation.
A clear explanation was also given about the tactical changes between the first and second sections. According to Tojiev, Pakhtakor tried to break through through the center more often in the first half. However, it was difficult to pass through such a closed defensive center. Therefore, after the break, the team started making more assists from the wings, creating a threat in front of the opponent's goal. It's not hard to see that this change led to more chances in the second half and resulted in goals.
When asked whether all teams are offering defensive play against "Pakhtakor," the coach said that this is not news. According to him, this situation has existed for a long time, and a solution will be found by studying each opponent individually. This means that the team is ready for such scenarios and intends to take various tactical measures against them in the future.
It was also explained that Azizbek Turg'unboyev left the team shortly before the transfer window closed. According to Tojiev, the player himself expressed a desire to gain more playing time. For this reason, the club also decided to let him go, and this process was carried out by mutual consent of both sides. So, the decisive factor here was not the conflict, but the player's desire to play.
Speaking about the participation of Nasrullayev, Bozorov, and Mozgovoy today, Kamoliddin Tojiyev described them as players of national team level. In his opinion, this trio has shown their level on the field today. At the same time, the coach once again emphasized that the entire team had made 120% effort, saying that such players could bring great benefit to any team in the Super League.
It was also noted that the next round will be against "Kokand-1912" and last season "Pakhtakor" was excluded from the championship race after the match in Kokand. To the question of whether the team would head this time in a rematch mood, Tojiyev admitted that he lacked some "mood" last year. According to him, efforts will be made to prevent the recurrence of this shortcoming this season. This signaled serious preparation for the upcoming match.
In short, Kamoliddin Tojiyev's comments at the press conference indicate that although Pakhtakor started the season with a victory, the team is still at the beginning of the journey. The coach has a clear plan for breaking through the opponent's defense, squad competition, transfers, injuries, and upcoming matches. Most importantly, he demonstrated a high level of internal confidence and competition within the team. This indicates that the Lions are moving towards greater goals in the new season.
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