Yeghishe Melikyan: “We had chances to earn points against Hungary, but we didn’t take them”

Armenia national team head coach Yeghishe Melikyan summed up the away match against Hungary (0:2), held on October 11 in Budapest, as part of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

Yeghishe Melikyan’s post-match press conference after Hungary 2–0 Armenia

“We had chances to get points against Hungary but didn’t take advantage of them. At the same time, I must say Hungary deserved to win — they played very well. It was a decent game overall, and I congratulate our opponents. We need to forget this match and move forward.
Of course, there were problems in our game — otherwise, we wouldn’t have lost. We’ll analyze everything and work on our mistakes. Overall, the team knew how to play, and we managed to create attacks as planned. There were errors, but we’ll definitely work to fix them,” Melikyan began the press conference.

— Once again, the team struggled to convert chances. Was that the main reason for the defeat? How will you address this issue?

— That’s right. If we had converted even one chance, the result could have been different. But this is football — we have what we have. Our team doesn’t have a classic No. 9 who consistently scores at the European level. We try to create chances in other ways, but you’re right — we must solve this issue and start scoring. One goal today could have been enough to avoid defeat.

— What positive aspects did you see in the match?

— The atmosphere within the team, the support of our fans — there were many even in Budapest. I also want to note our belief in success and our organization, which helps us fight until the end. We have many positive qualities that will eventually lead to results.

— In the first half, you were very emotional on the touchline. Were you unhappy with some players?

— No, it was just emotions. I was frustrated that our combinations and game plan were working, but we couldn’t score due to errors and inaccuracies. Overall, I’m satisfied with all my players.

— After Hungary’s goal, they focused more on defense, and Armenia created more chances. Why did you decide to bring on Grant-Leon Ranos so late?

— I had planned to introduce Ranos earlier, but Tigran Barseghyan was very active and performing well, so I decided to keep him on the pitch longer. He was pressing, disturbing the opponent, playing aggressively — it would have been wrong to substitute him early. In the final minutes, we switched to a four-man defense, and after that, we created good chances. That’s why it’s very disappointing to lose.

— Henry Avagyan was very involved in the build-up play. How important is that role for you?

— Yes, that’s part of our playing style. Henry Avagyan is our main goalkeeper, and we will continue to build up play through him. Through his participation, we play out from the back, stretch the opponent’s defense, and create space for our attackers.

Armenia will play its next match on October 14 in Dublin against Ireland. After three rounds, Yeghishe Melikyan’s team has 3 points and sits 3rd in Group F.