In the 10th round of the Uzbekistan Super League, "Neftchi" secured a confident 4:0 home victory over "Qoʻqon-1912". Following the match, the Fergana side's head coach, Islom Ismoilov, attended a press conference to share his thoughts on the game and the team.
The coach first congratulated the fans on the beautiful performance and the high-scoring victory. He noted that today's match showcased not only the team's current state but also its future potential:
“It would not be an exaggeration to say that today we saw the present and the future of ‘Neftchi’ on the field,” Ismoilov said.
One of the players who stood out during the match was young defender Nurmuhammad Abdugʻaniyev. On this occasion, he played as a right-back. The coach spoke highly of his potential, emphasizing that a great future awaits him if he continues to work hard. At the same time, he admitted that some minor mistakes occurred as it was the player's first time in this position.
Ismoilov also responded to criticisms regarding the team's squad. According to him, while it is true that the squad contains strong players, collective play and tactical changes do not take shape without the efforts of the coaches:
“It is last year's squad, but this year we are showing a completely different style of football. This is the collective work of everyone: the players, the coaching staff, and the management,” he stated.
Additionally, the coach alluded to the fact that local specialists are sometimes subject to unfair opinions. According to him, if a foreign coach were leading the team, the results might be evaluated differently. At the same time, Ismoilov expressed his intention to provide the primary response through results on the pitch.
Speaking about future plans, the coach noted that three matches are expected in the group stage of the Uzbekistan Cup in May. Furthermore, after a short break in June, the team will begin preparations for the second half of the season.
The issue of the AFC Champions League Elite was also addressed. Ismoilov stated that the team began preparing for this competition at the beginning of the year. Although specific opponents have not yet been studied, the Saudi and Qatari championships are being closely monitored.
In short, “Neftchi” is not only winning matches but is also shaping its playing style and future strategy. Now, the most intriguing question is how long the team can maintain this tempo.
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