DOUBLE RESPONSIBILITY

Perhaps, the head coach of Garabagh FC, and now the national football team of Azerbaijan, Gurban Gurbanov, is the most popular sports personality of Azerbaijan in 2017. In fact, the main reason of his popularity is the performance of his team, Garabagh. For the first time in the history of Azerbaijani sports, Gurbanov's team qualified for the Champions League and demonstrated a laudable game on continental level.

Gurbanov became the head coach of the national team at the end of last year. He was also recognized as the best coach of the year and awarded various awards. Despite his heavy workload, he kindly agreed for an interview to Region Plus as the coach of the national team.

For the last year, you were under the spotlight of the sports community of Azerbaijan, and even of Europe. What are your impressions?

I have been feeling, shall we say, a little out of my league. Too much talk about me made me feel somewhat uncomfortable. It seems they are quite optimistic about me. That is why I am worried. A coach must be ready for failures, which can occur any time. But I must admit that I am afraid of failures. I am afraid that those who believe in us will suddenly cease to believe. On the other hand, it helps a lot and motivates us to work even more. Because now I have a double responsibility.

Your qualification for the Champions League opened a new page in the history of national sports. Which game did make you feel confident about Garabagh’s participation in the most prestigious European tournament?

I knew that it would be very difficult. The Champions League is the most renowned club competition of the continent. I was preparing for the worst. I was thinking about the consequences if we fail to qualify for the Champions League. Yet we have kept faith even in the most difficult game.

I have always said that I was afraid of weak teams. Usually, we scrupulously get prepared to encounters with strong teams. We believe that we will demonstrate a well-deserved performance. We have gathered a lot of experience in European tournaments, since we have played several times in the playoffs and in the Euroleague. Our management, coaches, and players have never relaxed. Even when we won a ticket to the Euroleague. We will try to show a successful performance in the next season too.

Are not you afraid that your fans demand yet another qualification for the Champions League this summer?

It is necessary to repeat the achieved result after each success. One has to become the champion of Azerbaijan to qualify for the Champions League. That is what our fans expect from us now. First, we must get the gold medal of the national championship. If we start thinking about the group stage of the Champions League now, we will fail the championship in the Premier League. So, for now I am thinking more about retaining our leadership in the national championship. The fans have always had and will have demands. They should always enjoy football. And we must make use of every effort to meet this demand.

The qualification rules of the Champions League change this year. What difficulties can this change create for Garabagh?

I always welcome innovations but there are some caveats. Until recently, the regulations of the national championship have constantly changed too. This certainly has implications for the clubs. First, we must understand the format of new regulations and think about our preparedness from the very first game. Perhaps, we will not be able to understand the new rules in its entirety initially, and these factors will lead us to defeat. For such small countries as ours, it will be more difficult to qualify for the Champions League.

More than 65 thousand fans watched the match between Garabagh and Chelsea held in Baku. All the tickets at the Olympic Stadium were sold out. How difficult was it to play before your fans?

It is hard to cope with defeat in front of your fans. I did not want to lose in the home game with Roma. The same goes with our game with Chelsea. Almost 65 thousand fans came to the Olympic Stadium in Baku. They believed in us but, as it turned out, we could not please them. We remained in minority from the very beginning of the match, and then we missed the goals. We wanted to show a good game even if we lost. Chelsea was able to win scoring four-five goals, even if we were not in minority. Chelsea is a highly skilled team. Of course, we were well prepared, and wished to prove ourselves. But our desire was suddenly suppressed. The difference in the score could be even greater. This match was the hardest for me. Not only because we missed four scores. The whole match was difficult. Throughout the game, I was thinking if I could do something to keep the spirits of the players up. Such games encourage them to showing their characte.

Your game against Atletico Madrid has shocked the whole of Europe. The debutant team demonstrated a decent performance in both games against the experienced Spaniards. You even had a chance to win the away game. Did you wonder that you could win?

Each of the competitors has its advantages. Each of these teams claimed to win the Champions League and was able to achieve this. But I had different feelings in that particular game against the Spaniards. Both in Baku and in Madrid, the result was in our favor. Although we opened the score in Spain first, we could not keep the advantage. It is necessary to be realistic in this case. For comparison, Atletico is way ahead than Garabagh. The final score (1:1) seriously encouraged our players. Our teams rarely achieve such results.

By the end of 2017, the media suggested that Garabagh could take the third place in its group. Did these factors put extra pressure on the team?

That is how the sports works. I think this is normal. When we become rivals of such strong teams, they often do not take us seriously. They consider us as "suppliers" of six points. I think the final group ranking was fair. We had the smallest chance for the third place in the group.

You have realized the dream to play in the Champions League. What are your impressions about participating at the largest European tournament?

I have mixed feelings. A few days after the game with Copenhagen, I thought that I should control myself. So should the football players. After all, the success could change the athletes. This is a probable consequence after a victory in any country. We must make sure that this does not happen to us. I thought that everyone, including myself, should be attentive. I had to show the players that I remained calm and responsible, and continued working for success. Only by doing so, I could demand the same from the players.

What are the goals of Garabagh and Gurban Gurbanov for the near future?

If we spare enough time to work, then we will succeed. If not today, then tomorrow. My goal is not to qualify for the Champions League next year. Rather I try to work even harder, especially after participating in the Champions League.

It is your game with Copenhagen in Denmark that won Garabagh a ticket to the Champions League. Everyone was in the streets of Baku that night to celebrate and to share this joyful moment. Did you get many calls with congratulations?

Extremely many. There were both calls and messages. Sometimes someone congratulated us through another person, without calling. There were enough calls from outside the country.

Have you changed your number after such a hype of calls?

(Smiling). I have already. Just too many calls interfere with work. Sometimes the callers get offended. We usually spend most of the day on the training field. Sometimes they call me when I am at an event and cannot answer. Then this person sends me a message expressing his resentment. No need to get offended. I think that the more time I spare for my work the better.

Do you have time to walk around the city in Baku? Perhaps you attract the attention of your fans when you go out for a walk with your family...

Actually, I do not have much time for walking around the city. Sometimes they approach me when I go out to have a dinner with my family. I absolutely do not mind it. This is normal all over the world. Both the young and old people approach me. They express their sympathy and wishes. I am happy if I won the respect and love of people.

Today you are also the head coach of the Azerbaijani national team. Right after the appointment, we can hear rumors of your departure from Garabagh. Is it possible?

I do not think about parting with Garabagh. Our contract is in force until the end of May. I am very attached to this team. I have been in Garabagh for nine years. Neither the team leadership nor I has ever thought about it. It has always been about long-term cooperation. Garabagh and the national team are the most responsible positions in the national football. I am not going to part with the club, even if it will be very difficult for me.

In the last days of 2017, you visited the camp of Chelsea FC. Why there?

Chelsea is one of the leading clubs in the world. Head coach Antonio Conte is an extremely disciplined specialist. I have always wanted to know how the head coaches succeed. Every coach has his own style, charisma and requirements. I am extremely interested in leaders in any field. Getting to know Chelsea as a strong team and its coach Conte is very useful for me. I try to expand my modest knowledge.

President Ilham Aliyev received the team of Garabagh after your well-deserved qualification for the Champions League. It was his second meeting with Garabagh. He noted that he has followed your matches closely, despite the lack of time. Did you know that the president was following Garabagh’s performance?

The attention of Mr. President is an additional incentive for us. During the meeting, he noted all the nuances including our game style, the performance of each player on the field. This shows that the head of state is very fond of Azerbaijani football and wishes us great success. This meeting encourages all of us. We were very proud of being received by the president right after our arrival in Baku. We were also happy to see the joy of internally displaced people from Karabakh, our fans. This team deserves the best.

Your son Musa is also a football player, who is playing for Garabagh. Do you find time to watch his games?

Frankly, I have seldom watched his games. No time. Sometimes our games and workouts coincide. He is part of the U-16 team. He was injured but is recovered now. He chose football on his own. I have never asked Musa to become a football player. I have always wanted to see him as a well-educated person. He is currently in the 9th grade of the high school. Along with football, he tries to devote enough time to his education.

Many prestigious competitions were held in Azerbaijan In 2017. Which of them could you watch? Whom would you mention as the best athlete of the year?

I have closely followed the football tournament held as part of the Islamic Solidarity Games. In addition to football, I watched competitions in wrestling and judo. The best athlete of the year would be Haji Aliyev. He became the third world champion in freestyle wrestling for the third time. This is a great achievement. To become the best in the world for the third time means to constantly work on yourself.

And who is the best football player of 2017?

I think Mahir Madatov. Despite his young age, he scored important goals at important tournaments. He has managed to prove himself as a very experienced football player. True, he had weak performances too. He was part of the champion team at the Islamic Solidarity Games. He showed a good game at the championship of Azerbaijan, as well as the Champions League. I praise him not because he is part of Garabagh. This is reality.

How do you spend your free time?

I have very little free time. Earlier, I used to play football with my friends on Garabagh’s training field when we had time. After the new appointment, I have less leisure time. Recently, I have started playing table tennis. My rivals in the team play quite well. So, I play with them.

Thank you for sparing time for our magazine despite your busy schedule.

I also thank the leadership and staff of your magazine for your attention to sports and football. Your magazine has been popular for many years. I wish you increased the number of your readers. We have been reading Region Plus in the aircraft during the flights between the Champions League matches. We are always offered your magazine onboard, and we read the articles with great interest. Your magazine touches on relevant issues in all areas. One can always find various interviews and analytical articles there. Of course, we mostly read articles on sports events.