APPETITE COMES WITH EATING

Neftci has become the first Azerbaijani club to reach the group stage of the Europa League. By beating Hapoel (Cyprus) 3-1 away, our top team opened a new page in our football history. In Group H Neftci will meet Inter (Italy), Rubin (Russia) and Partizan (Serbia) and it is in matches against these clubs that we will get to know the club's real strength.

Inter

Three times winners of the Champions League, three times winners of the UEFA Cup, twice winners of the Intercontinental Cup, winners of the World Club Championship, winners of the intercontinental Super Cup and 18 times champions of Italy, Inter are one of the greats of European football. Despite their unimpressive form in recent months, the "Nerazzurri" are still favourites to win their group: even when they are off form, Inter are still dangerous opponents.

Neftci, who play host to the Italians in Baku on 4 October, are keyed up for the match. It is highly probable that Inter will not go flat out in the Europa League, but will save themselves for Serie A matches:  in Italy there is more prestige in becoming champions of the country than winning a European tournament. But Neftci must not relax and have no intention of doing so. Even a draw against Inter would be considered an achievement for the Azerbaijani club.

Rubin

Rubin are not the team they were three years ago. The club, who became Russian champions in 2008 and 2009, is no longer the power it used to be. But the team of Kurban Berdyyev, who in his last season won the Russian Cup and Supercup, has enough experience to cope with Neftci. The team from Kazan attaches great importance to the Europa League and because of that will give everything. Setting their sights on second place in the group, Rubin will try to get three points off Neftci in both matches. That said, experts believe that Azerbaijan's top team is capable of causing its opponents problems at least at home.

Partizan

Although one of Serbia's oldest clubs, they are no longer thought to be a serious threat. It is no secret that football in Serbia has seen better days. Sport in the country is going through financial difficulties and this means the top players are going abroad. Partizan, too, has serious financial problems, but they have experience and this should make our players prepare for them seriously. Experts believe that Neftci are capable of taking a point off Partizan in their first match, and if they can take something away from Serbia they will find it easier to take all three points off them in Baku. This will increase Neftci's chances of getting through the group.

The coach's view

Neftci's chief coach, Boyukaga Haciyev, is well known for his ambitious comments, and his team's victory in Cyprus showed that he has reason to hope. Neftci's reaching the group stage was also a gift for Haciyev himself, who had undergone an operation in Moscow shortly before this. After recovering he returned to Neftci and became part of the historic success of Azerbaijani soccer. Haciyev kindly agreed to share with R+ his assessment of his team's qualifying for the group stage of the Europa League and his plans and predictions for the future.

- Congratulations on your victory. I don't suppose we are the first to share the joy of victory with you. Have any of the other clubs phoned you?

- It was very pleasant indeed to receive congratulations after Neftci's historic triumph. I thank everyone - those who have sent their congratulations, and those who haven't had time to. Agasalim Mircavadov telephoned me. It was nice to hear his kind words. Arif Asadov also congratulated us, even though he was abroad. Our team's success is the whole country's success. So I would like to congratulate all our fans.

- To be honest, before your away game with Hapoel there weren't many people who gave you a chance. After the 1-1 draw in Baku our opponents' chances were thought to be quite high…

- We should have won in Baku. A mistake in a counter-attack enabled the Cypriots to equalise. So the away match was always going to be tough. But I was confident we could win. Even before the game I told journalists that Neftci would get through to the group stage. I love taking a chance and so I always try to be ambitious.

- What you said at the press conference annoyed the Cypriot fans…

- At the conference one local journalist asked me: "Don't you feel intimidated by 20,000 people in the ground?" I said we were representing Azerbaijan and I wasn't a bit afraid. In our hearts the flags of Azerbaijan and Turkey are always side by side. Neftci would play in such a way that all 20,000 supporters would applaud us. My prediction was justified. Whereas at the start of the match the fans whistled and booed me, they then had to clap us. Our players won them over by the way we played. 

- What was your reaction to the burning of the Turkish flag during the game?

- We responded to that by playing football. The fans and the players tried to provoke us but we concentrated on our football. And Hapoel had to come to terms with the fact that Neftci were the stronger side.

- It won't be long before the group stage starts. Will there be any new transfers?

- We shan't be getting any new players. I'm happy with the players I've got and we can play in the group stage with this squad.

- What's your next job and what are your expectations?

- Appetite comes with eating. I am confident Neftci will get through the group. Our opponents are very strong. But I believe in my team, and I am also happy with the draw. It has brought us up against teams we can deal with. All we have to do is train and prepare ourselves properly. I have watched videos of Partizan's matches and I know about Rubin. Neftci will give a good account of themselves against them.

 - What about Italy's Inter?

- Inter have won the Champions League. They have become Italian champions on a number of occasions and are one of the greats of the continent. Our matches with them will be very tough. Even so, we are not thinking about defeat.

- Neftci's first match is away to Partizan. What can we expect from this match?

 - We always have one objective and that is to win. When you realize that this is an away match a draw would also be a good result. The main thing is to aim to be at the top of the group. Many people didn't believe that Neftci would reach the group stage. Perhaps now they don't believe we will get out of the group. It will all come out in the wash.

 -The local press is saying that you had the nickname "The wimp". Now they are starting to compare you with famous Jose Mourinho…  

- (laughs) Mourinho is a coach who is known all over the world. To be mentioned in the same breath as him is a great honour. He has achieved a lot and I have a long way to go to match him. Every coach has his weak aspects, including my Portuguese colleague. We still have a lot of work to do. I am pleased that Neftci has achieved such historic success under an Azerbaijani coach. You can put your trust in foreign experts but you should never forget local coaches, too. Nobody knows Azerbaijani soccer as well as they do.

AT FIRST HAND

"We shan't be getting any new players. I'm happy with the players I've got and we can play in the group stage with this squad".

Boyukagha Haciyev, Neftci's chief coach.