Neman players share first impressions of Armenia ahead of match vs Urartu

Ahead of the first qualifying round clash in the UEFA Europa Conference League between Yerevan's Urartu and Grodno's Neman, the Belarusian team's players shared their early impressions of Armenia and their expectations for the upcoming match.

From an interview with sport5.by.

Ukrainian defender Yurii Pantia praised the comfortable weather and the well-organized reception in Yerevan. Although it's his first time in Armenia, he's satisfied with the conditions and infrastructure:

"I expected it to be hotter. The weather is very pleasant. Everything is in place — artificial field, main pitch. I think it’s convenient."

Pantia admitted he’s not yet in peak form, but he remains positive:

"I have match fitness — that’s good. No fatigue, the game will show everything."

Midfielder Mikhail Kozlov joined journalists on a visit to the Cascade, where they enjoyed a view of Mount Ararat, and shared his impressions of the Armenian capital:

"The city center is beautiful — lots of greenery, cafes, a relaxed atmosphere. But outside the center, it’s a completely different picture."

He noted the lack of a European cup match atmosphere in Yerevan:

"No posters, no ads, no club branding. If we were playing in Grodno, the whole city would be living football."

Another Neman midfielder, Sergey Pushnyakov, currently recovering from injury, is eagerly awaiting his European debut:

"When I joined Neman, I dreamed of playing in Europe. It was very disappointing to get injured before the cup final. But now the wound is almost healed, and I’m ready to work."

According to Pushnyakov, Urartu has the advantage of playing at home, but their break from matches could be a factor:

"Maybe they’re fresh, but we’ve also become more cohesive during this time. The game will tell everything."

The match between Urartu and Neman will take place in Yerevan on July 10. Kick-off is at 20:30 local time.

Match preview: Urartu vs Neman — a European showdown