Artak Oseyan: “We believe we can beat Debrecen and advance to the next round”

Pyunik head coach Artak Oseyan and midfielder Hovhannes Harutyunyan took part in a press conference ahead of the second leg of their UEFA Conference League second qualifying round tie against Hungary’s Debrecen.

The first leg, played in Hungary, ended in a 1–0 victory for the hosts. The return match will take place in Yerevan on July 30.

Hovhannes Harutyunyan: “We are confident that we can win”

Pyunik midfielder Hovhannes Harutyunyan spoke about returning to his boyhood club and the team’s preparations for the upcoming match.

— How do you feel after returning to your home club? How were you welcomed, and how well have you managed to settle in?

— I am very happy to have returned to my home club. The players and coaches gave me a very warm welcome. I will do everything possible to repay them with my performances on the pitch.

— The way the first match unfolded did not suggest that Pyunik would lose. How did the team cope with the defeat, and is it ready for the return leg?

— To be honest, we have already forgotten about the first match. We have prepared very well for the return leg and are confident that we can win.

Artak Oseyan: “The level of our performance gives us reason to believe we can win”

Pyunik head coach Artak Oseyan noted that the team did not deserve to lose the first leg but remains confident in its abilities.

— How did the team cope with the defeat in the first match, and how prepared is it psychologically for the return leg?

— It was indeed a match that we did not deserve to lose. Of course, it was disappointing to suffer a defeat in a game like that. However, the level of our performance gives us reason to believe that we can win and advance. As for the mood within the team, everyone believes that we can win and reach the next round.

— What can you say about Artak Dashyan’s injury? How long will his recovery take?

— It is very disappointing news for us. Dashyan will miss tomorrow’s match. He will need at least two weeks to recover.

Artak Dashyan sustained the injury during the first half of the first match against Debrecen.

— What did the team lack in the first leg? Debrecen have also already played a domestic league match. What can you say about that game?

— The first match was completely even. The only things we lacked were the decisive final touch and the ability to convert our chances. Our opponents managed to do that. Therefore, we will have to play even better tomorrow if we want to advance.

I do not think Debrecen’s league match will have much of an impact on our encounter. Many of their first-team players did not feature, as they rotated the squad. We did not see anything new in the way the team played.

— Viti recently joined Pyunik and played a few minutes in the first match. What condition is he in now?

— He arrived in very good physical condition because he had completed pre-season training with his previous team. The only issue is adapting to our style of play. I hope the minutes he spent on the pitch in the first match will help him perform better tomorrow.

— What caused the goalkeeper’s mistake in the incident that led to the conceded goal?

— Individual mistakes are inevitable. We are not looking for reasons or excuses; we are looking for ways to accomplish our objectives. We analysed that incident so that we can avoid making similar mistakes in the future.

— In the first match, it seemed that Pyunik did not commit all of its resources to attacking, while the game itself was more tactical. Can the team offer more in attack during the return leg?

— Of course, there are areas in which we can improve. However, first and foremost, we must play intelligently. We need to neutralise our opponents’ strengths and then take advantage of their weaknesses. It is therefore important for us to maintain the right balance.