Armenian national team defender Giorgi Harutyunyan, who plays for the Hungarian club Puskás Akadémia, gave an interview to FFA TV, where he talked about his adaptation to his new club and the upcoming UEFA Nations League playoff matches against Georgia.
"I was warmly welcomed in Hungary, and the club has helped me with everything. The league here is at a high level, with intense battles and physical football. I get plenty of playing time, which is very important for me. Our club is currently at the top of the table, which speaks to the quality of our team. We can compete with and even surpass clubs like Ferencváros. Of course, nothing is decided yet, but we will do everything possible to win the championship title," Harutyunyan noted.
The defender also spoke about his relationship with Puskás Akadémia's head coach Zsolt Hornyák, who previously worked in Armenian football.
"We often talk about the Armenian national team and the local league. The coach even jokes that he knows Armenian better than I do. I just need to improve my knowledge," the footballer said.
Harutyunyan emphasized that he now joins the national team in good shape since he regularly gets playing time at his club.
"Previously, I arrived without consistent match practice, and that affected my performance. Now I feel much better. I haven't had the chance to talk to the national team's head coach yet, but I'm sure there will be time for that," he added.
The defender also shared his expectations for the matches against Georgia.
"We are looking forward to these games with great interest. They are our neighbors, and this is a kind of Caucasus derby. We really want to win," he concluded.
It is worth noting that in January, the 20-year-old Harutyunyan transferred from Krasnodar to Puskás Akadémia for €1 million. Zsolt Hornyák previously coached Armenian clubs Mika and Banants (now Urartu).
The Armenian national team has already started preparations for the matches. The first game against Georgia will take place on March 20 at the Republican Stadium in Yerevan, while the return leg will be held on March 23 at the Dinamo Arena in Tbilisi.