Bunyodkor head coach Ilyos Zeytullayev participated in a press conference after the defeat against Dinamo and openly commented on the game, mistakes, and the team's condition. First of all, he congratulated the Samarkand team on the victory and also thanked his team.
According to Zeytullayev, the meeting was a spectator-friendly one. He even put himself in the fan's shoes and hinted that if he had sat in the stadium as a regular fan, he would have returned satisfied with the game. He assessed this as a sign that the level of the championship is growing: especially the second half was very interesting, and the first half was not bad for the fans either.
The coach emphasized that defeat can sometimes be a "painful lesson." According to him, defeat reveals some problems, often pointing out points that have been overlooked. Bunyodkor's headquarters stated that they would analyze these aspects.
The most important and sensational thought was that the coach himself took responsibility for the first half. Zeytullayev openly admitted to a tactical error in the first half: he misplaced the team against the opponent. He also said that he knew in advance that "Dynamo" would often change wings and be strong in one-on-one episodes. For this reason, some changes were made after the break, and the playing scene changed significantly in the second half.
He also emphasized that Bunyodkor didn't play hard enough in the first half. The opponent was more vigilant than them, pressing the supporting midfielder. As a result, the same player was often forced to play with his back, and errors increased. According to Zeytullayev, the team still needs to grow significantly in terms of "reading the game."
The coach also touched upon the issue of communication and mutual understanding. Since many new players have joined the squad this season, strengthening team harmony is required. However, he noted that he is not saying this as an excuse, on the contrary, they will work on it.
The issue of personnel was also discussed at the conference. According to Zeytullayev, Shahboz pulled his back muscle during training before the game, which is a huge loss. He described Shahboz as an important, positive, and hardworking player for the team, noting that he has great potential and hasn't even managed to show half of his potential. The coach added that he is eagerly awaiting his return to the squad.
It was also emphasized that the team's squad is not very large, and due to the large number of young players, the importance of experienced and high-quality players is great. If Shahboz returns, he can bring significant benefit to the team.
Zeytullayev also spoke warmly about Azizbek Amonov. He described him as a true professional, a good person, and said that when he came to "Bunyodkor," he really wanted to help the team, he worked very hard in training. It was then noted that it was a common occurrence in football that he moved to another club and was able to perform well there. The coach wished Amonov good luck and expressed his desire to return to the national team.
At the end of the conference, Zeytullayev said that other coaching staff recently came to observe the training, and they exchanged views on the championship, cultural aspects, and some problems. This meeting was his first, but he also added that he had contact with specialists at the headquarters.
In short, "Bunyodkor" prioritizes analysis and conclusion rather than "justification" after defeat. Now the most important task is not to repeat the mistakes of the first half and to turn the positive change that appeared in the second half into a stable game.
Read “Zamin” on Telegram!
