Sabah's long-awaited day
The day has come. A new challenge and a new chapter for Azerbaijani football.
Today, Baku's Sabah begins its Champions League campaign. Ahead lie matches against Europe's strongest clubs, a grand stage, and the chance to write a new page in the club's history. For the Azerbaijani team, a journey begins that until recently could only be dreamed of. The team will play its first match in England.
This is not the first time an Azerbaijani representative has started a European tournament with a match on the "Foggy Albion."
Agdam's Qarabag has already played its first matches in England twice. Those were Tottenham and Chelsea. Now it is Sabah's turn. The team came through four qualifying rounds, which already deserves respect. The first game at Old Trafford already sounds like a huge challenge. A chance to show everything you are capable of, everything you have been working toward all these years. The "Owls" also have certain difficulties in their squad. The injury of defender Steve Solvet can be considered a big loss. It is likely that the Baku side will take the field in their usual formation. In goal — Stas Pokatilov. The defensive line may be made up of Junior Almeida, Rahman Dashdamirov, Tellur Mutallimov and Tymoteusz Puchacz.
Mutallimov's appearance is possible due to the injury of Akim Zedadka. However, there is still a chance that Zedadka could be seen from the opening minutes. Ivan Lepinjica and Umarali Rahmonaliev will be in the holding zone. Aleksey Isaev will be a free artist in the center, and up front we will see Joy-Lance Mickels. Veljko Simic will operate on the left in attack, and Christian Nwachukwu on the right. The Baku side is trying to combine European competition with the national championship as much as possible. A clear confirmation of this is the big win over Zira in the last round.
VALDAS DAMBRAUSKAS
HEAD COACH OF FC SABAH
"Right now our goal is not to think about the result. We want to show good football and see how strong we really are when facing one of the best teams in the world. Right after the draw in Monaco, I said that the draw could turn out to be difficult, very difficult, that it could be a real 'Sabah draw.' We will play against teams such as Manchester United, Barcelona, Arsenal, Borussia Dortmund, Napoli.
United has returned to the Champions League after a certain period of absence from this tournament. Considering how unstable the team has been in recent years, its performance last season can be regarded as a great success. After Michael Carrick took over as head coach, the team developed a clear picture of its game, a style emerged. All of this began to bring results. The Mancunians have prepared seriously for this game. Head coach Michael Carrick also spoke about the analysis of the opponent at the pre-match press conference.
MICHAEL CARRICK
HEAD COACH OF FC MANCHESTER UNITED
"We are glad to be taking part in the Champions League again. We had an excellent transfer campaign, and an important match awaits us. We will see on the pitch how well we have prepared for this game. Playing in the Champions League means a lot. You test yourself in contests against elite teams. As for Sabah, you can see that this is a coaching team. They play confidently, work well with the ball and interact well. We know perfectly well who we will be playing against"
Manchester United is quite unstable. The team can display imbalance over the course of a match, at times defending, and at times fully controlling the flow of the game. In the English Premier League, over three matches, the "Red Devils" have both won and lost, and also played to a draw. The main thing for Sabah is not to give the opponent free space. It is precisely free zones that United exploits better than anyone. The flanks in particular may be used. The English can display their strengths by playing exactly in this way. As for Sabah, they should not fear anything. Neither a tough draw, nor elite opponents, even on their home ground. The main thing is to play their own football and enjoy it. After all, playing against United in your first ever match in the Champions League is already something millions dream of.
VALDAS DAMBRAUSKAS
HEAD COACH OF FC SABAH
"The main thing is to enjoy the game, to feel this special moment and to be inside it. Of course, we want to show the best we are capable of, and the football we can play. Will we be able to compete? Will we be able to do something that surprises the football community? That is exactly what we want to see. If we start thinking about the result, we will lose focus on all these questions that I have listed."
Now all that remains is to wait for the main thing — the opening whistle. This will be more than just a match. This is the moment the club has been working toward since its founding. What this debut will be like, only the game will show. But one thing is already obvious: for Sabah and for all of Azerbaijani football, a new European chapter is beginning.
EMIN AKHMEDOV
