“We Respect Sion, but We Know What We Are Capable Of”: Perković and Manvelyan Ahead of the Conference League Match

On August 6, Noah will host Swiss side Sion in Abovyan in the first leg of the UEFA Conference League third qualifying round. The match at Abovyan City Stadium will kick off at 8:00 p.m. local time.

Ahead of the match, Noah head coach Sandro Perković and midfielder Gor Manvelyan answered questions from journalists. The Armenian club’s coach discussed the opposition’s strengths, his team’s preparations and the development of young players, while Manvelyan assessed his own form and the atmosphere within the squad.

Sandro Perković and Gor Manvelyan’s Press Conference

Sandro Perkovic

— What is your opinion of your upcoming opponents?

— They are a very good team. According to some data, they play in a league that ranks second in the world in terms of match intensity. This will be a serious test and a major challenge for us. We knew what we had to prepare for, and we understand how we need to play. If we can perform with the same intensity as our opponents, we will be able to succeed. We respect Sion, but we also respect ourselves and our own football. We know what we are capable of.

— Are there any similarities between the Armenian and Swiss leagues?

— I do not think they have anything in common.

— What can you say about the level of competition in the Armenian league, and what are Noah’s ambitions?

— The Armenian league is very competitive, and it is genuinely difficult to play here. There are many experienced footballers and good coaches in the championship.

I am very pleased with the results achieved by all four Armenian clubs in European competition. They have confirmed what I said about the strength of the Armenian league. About a year ago, I expressed my opinion about this competition, but people did not believe me at the time. Now, the results of the Armenian clubs prove that I was right.

I would also like to take this opportunity to congratulate all the Armenian clubs on their successful performances in Europe. I hope one of them can reach the league phase of the Champions League. That would provide a fantastic boost to the development of Armenian football. I am certain that after such a success, Armenian football as a whole would begin to develop much more quickly.

As for Noah, we are very ambitious and do not want to be remembered for just one success. We are fortunate to have a club owner who understands football. We have built the team step by step. You can see our infrastructure, and I believe it deserves high praise. Our academy is also doing an excellent job with children, so the club has a wonderful future.

— Noah played a league match just three days before this game. Have the players had enough time to recover?

— Before a match like this, that does not matter at all. We have been eagerly awaiting this game, and nothing can prevent us from approaching it fully prepared. Even if we had played against Syunik today, we would still be ready. That is our mentality. The team is completely prepared.

— Sion have only been Swiss champions twice, but they have frequently won the national cup. They are regarded as a cup team that performs well in knockout matches. How much will that affect the upcoming tie?

— It will be difficult for us in any case. The Swiss league is one of the strongest in Europe. Well-known teams play there, there are excellent footballers and the infrastructure is highly developed. The stadiums are full for matches, and the country has a very strong football culture.

I think we are facing a very difficult game. Looking at Sion’s squad, you can see that many of their players have been at the club for three to five years. Even the head coach has been working with the team for quite a long time, which is rather unusual for this club. They also have individually strong players.

For us, this is a good challenge and an opportunity to understand what level we are currently at and whether we can cope with this kind of intensity. At the same time, we are really looking forward to the game and are fully prepared for it.

— Last season, Noah brought great joy and hope to Armenian football and also helped raise its level. Has that success increased the responsibility the team carries today?

— I do not think that responsibility creates any additional anxiety. In any case, we feel a responsibility to ourselves, to our football, to our families and to the club owner.

The most important thing is to play our football, understand who we are playing against and know how we need to perform. We will focus solely on our own game.

— What can you say about Albert Gareginian? How do you assess his development, and what plans does the coaching staff have for him this season?

— I am very happy for him. He scored the first goal of his professional career. For a young footballer, that is a major event that he will remember for the rest of his life.

His parents have raised him very well. He is a wonderful person and an example to the others. I hope he remains that way. I believe that if Albert continues working as he is now, he will become one of Armenia’s leading footballers in 10 to 15 years.

He has already helped our team, but he is only 17 years old, so we need to be patient and support him in every possible way. He will receive playing time as often as possible. I already consider him a first-team player.

— Nathanaël Saintini joined Noah from Sion. How did he help you prepare for the match?

— Yes, he joined us from Sion, and he is a fantastic footballer. I am happy that he plays for our team.

I did not want to speak to him too much about Sion because the upcoming match will be especially emotional for him. However, we did discuss certain details. He helped us learn more about several of the opposition players, and we will certainly make use of that information during the match.

— Sion have enjoyed success in European competition, particularly in the 2015/16 Europa League season. What will be the key to Noah’s success in this tie?

— Sion have a very good team and strong players. I know the club well, as a Croatian coach previously worked there. It is genuinely a big club.

They have only been national champions twice, but they have won the Swiss Cup 13 times, emerging victorious in 13 of the 14 finals they have played.

However, all of that is history. The most important thing is what exists today. They have a good squad, but we also have a good team. The main key to success will be matching the opposition’s intensity and winning our individual duels. We are not always accustomed to this level of physical competition in the Armenian league, but if we can cope with it, we will show our true level.

— You previously worked at Dinamo Zagreb, which has one of the best academies. How much can you help Noah achieve similar success?

— At present, I am the head coach of the first team. I am doing my job and cannot directly influence the academy. In my opinion, it will take a great deal of time, and a lot of work still needs to be done.

However, I can say something that I would not say about Croatia: children in Armenia really love football and love playing it. I see that in the streets, and it is something that needs to be utilised. At the academy, I see children between the ages of seven and 15 enjoying football. I consider that extremely important.

Armenia has everything necessary to create a good academy and a wonderful footballing future. One example of this is that one of the world’s best midfielders of the past decade was Armenian. All of this must be used, along with the successful performances of Armenian clubs in European competitions. It could help Armenian football take another step forward.

— Would you have preferred the second leg to be played at home rather than away?

— Most likely, yes. However, this tie will be played over 180 minutes, and we must perform very well throughout that entire period.

— Before the matches against Zimbru, you had enough time to prepare. The Armenian league has now begun, so you have considerably less time. What did the team focus on most during training?

— The coaching staff worked extremely hard over the past few days. We practically did not even have time to sleep. The players received all the information they needed.

We analysed and discussed everything and carried out our tactical preparations. In other words, we did everything we would normally do before any other match. Every training session was dedicated to ensuring that the team approached the games against Sion in the best possible condition.

Gor Manvelyan

— How are you feeling?

— I feel very good. I am in good form and can feel the coach’s trust. I am doing everything possible to help the team.

— What do you think of the opponents? Are they a team you can beat?

— I think we can beat any opponent. We know that Sion are a strong team and that a difficult match awaits us. But we are ready for it.

— Five new players have joined Noah’s attacking line. How is your understanding with them developing, and how do you assess the new players overall?

— The new players are footballers of a very high level, so it is easy to play alongside them. They have excellent qualities. I am certain that our understanding will become even better in the future.

— You scored a goal and provided an assist in the first two matches of the European season. How much does that inspire you?

— It is very motivating. My main objective is to help the team win. I understand that my goals and assists help us achieve victories. However, the most important thing is the result of the team as a whole.

— Noah face a very difficult path to the league phase of the Conference League. What is the mood within the team at the moment?

— Yes, we understand that a difficult path lies ahead. However, as I have already said, we are ready to overcome it. I am certain that we will do everything possible on the pitch to achieve that.