Vahe Gevorgyan: “Alashkert advanced thanks to character and the will to win”

Alashkert head coach Vahe Gevorgyan commented on his team’s dramatic victory over Kazakhstan’s Yelimay in the second leg of the UEFA Conference League first qualifying round.

The match in Semey ended 2–2 after extra time, leaving the teams level at 3–3 on aggregate. Alashkert won the penalty shootout 6–5. Armenian goalkeeper Arsen Beglaryan saved the decisive attempt from Duban Palacio.

Alashkert will face Romania’s CFR Cluj in the second qualifying round.

Vahe Gevorgyan’s opening remarks

— I would like to begin by thanking Kazakhstan. You have a wonderful country and wonderful people. This is not my first time taking part in international matches, but I have never experienced such a warm welcome before.

Yelimay are a very good team led by a strong coach. Both teams deserved to advance, but that is football — we were the ones who reached the next round. I wish Yelimay good luck in the Kazakhstan championship.

Just like in Yerevan, it was a very even game. The initiative shifted from one team to the other. We started the match well and scored, but conceded an equaliser quite quickly. After that, we played more actively and could have scored several more goals.

Towards the end, Yelimay took control. They had opportunities to score and eventually did so in extra time. However, we showed character. I have to be honest: Yelimay had a very dangerous chance, and if they had scored a third goal, it would have been all over.

We made some tactical changes, the players showed character and managed to equalise. I want to thank the team for their will to win. You do not see that very often, especially in European competition.

— Did you prepare for a penalty shootout?

— Yes, we practised penalties for two days in Yerevan. After the first match, we understood that the teams were roughly equal in strength and that any scenario was possible.

— Your next opponents will be CFR Cluj. What do you expect from that tie?

— We have not analysed CFR Cluj yet because we were completely focused on the matches against Yelimay. Now that we have advanced, we will return home and begin studying our opponents.

— At the World Cup, Argentina came from behind late in their match against England and won. Today, Alashkert found themselves in Argentina’s position. What do you think of that comparison?

— I have to be modest. I cannot compare myself to Lionel Scaloni or my team to the Argentina national team. We try to give our maximum in every match, but I cannot imagine how we would perform against England or Argentina.

— Did you believe you could equalise towards the end of extra time?

— I am very happy that the saving goal was scored by a young player who only made his debut for the team in the first match against Yelimay. Daouda Togola is only 18 years old. He came onto the pitch and saved the tie for us.

Of course, the entire team believed that we would score. We also believed that we would win the penalty shootout and leave here with a place in the next round.

— Do people in Armenia follow the development of Kazakh football?

— In general, yes. You know better than I do that many Armenian footballers played in the Kazakhstan championship in the past. My friend Artur Avagyan also played in Semey, when the team was called Spartak.

For that reason, both Armenian supporters and football specialists are quite familiar with Kazakh football.

— Who chose the goal at which the penalty shootout was taken?

— To be honest, I did not notice. We began celebrating immediately after the victory and have not had time to ask yet. Now I am curious myself, so I will check with the players.

— As far as I remember, there have been two penalty shootouts at this stadium. On both occasions, the home team lost when the penalties were taken towards the southern goal. Now it has happened for a third time.

— I sincerely hope that you will play in European competition again next year, win a penalty shootout and advance. But, of course, not in a match against us.

— In the second half, just as in the first leg, Alashkert began to play better. What did you change during the break?

— We always do certain work at half-time. The analysts share their observations, after which we make adjustments to our game. It also gives us an opportunity to speak with the players and motivate them further.

I would once again point out that the tie against Yelimay was extremely even. The initiative shifted from one team to the other at different stages. We performed poorly towards the end of the second half, but overall, both teams created dangerous chances.

— Goalkeeper Arsen Beglaryan took a penalty in the shootout. Was that planned in advance?

— We practised penalties for two days, looked for the best options and assessed who was the most composed. Arsen is a very calm person and took penalties well in training. However, an official match is different from a training session, and this time he failed to score.

By the end of the match, the players who normally take penalties — Karen Nalbandyan and Momo Touré — were no longer on the pitch. Therefore, we had to choose other players. Some refused, while Arsen agreed. He hit the crossbar, but then made up for it by saving the opponents’ decisive penalty.

— Was Karen Nalbandyan substituted because of an injury?

— He went onto the pitch despite already carrying an injury. Hopefully, it is nothing serious. I am grateful to him for being able to play through the pain and show character.

— In your opinion, is a penalty shootout a lottery, or is it an indication of a team’s preparation, mentality and quality?

— A penalty shootout cannot be a lottery. You select the players who will take the penalties and prepare a certain strategy. Of course, unexpected misses sometimes happen.

I have lost penalty shootouts before, but I have never regarded them as a lottery. It is a separate psychological battle and a fully fledged part of football.

— Yelimay were making their European debut, while Alashkert have considerable experience in European competition. Could that experience have helped you win?

— I do not understand why everyone focuses on Alashkert’s previous European experience. The club had a completely different team at that time.

Only a few players in the current squad have limited experience of playing in Europe. Most of the players had never previously taken part in European competition. The club’s name does not matter in this case. It was the players’ character and determination that helped us win.

— Is the team physically ready for the second qualifying round?

— We have not studied our next opponents yet. However, regardless of who we face, we want to win and aim to go as far as possible.