Manuel Tulipa and Alwyn Tera Ahead of Jagiellonia Clash: The Opposition, Injuries and Chances of a First Europa League Win

On October 15, Ararat-Armenia will play their first away match of the 2026/27 UEFA Europa League league phase. In Matchday 2, the Armenian club will face Polish side Jagiellonia in Białystok.

Both teams began their campaigns with defeats. In the opening round, Ararat-Armenia suffered a 4-1 home loss to Sparta Prague in Yerevan, while Jagiellonia were beaten 2-1 by Greek side Olympiacos.

Both sides will now be looking to collect their first points of the competition. The Polish club enter the match on the back of three consecutive defeats and sit tenth in their domestic league. However, Ararat-Armenia head coach Manuel Tulipa believes Jagiellonia's recent results do not reflect their true quality.

Ahead of the encounter in Białystok, Ararat-Armenia head coach Manuel Tulipa and midfielder Alwyn Tera attended a pre-match press conference.

The Armenian club's representatives shared their expectations for the upcoming match, assessed the opposition's strengths, provided updates on the squad's injury situation and explained the lessons learned from their defeat against Sparta Prague.

Alwyn Tera: "Both Teams Will Be Aiming for Their First Europa League Victory"

— What are your expectations for the upcoming match and the team's future performances in the Europa League?

— Playing in the Europa League is a wonderful feeling for me. We have been working towards this for several years. However, we understand that we haven't achieved anything truly significant yet. This is only the beginning of our journey, so we must keep moving forward.

— You play in several different midfield positions. Which role do you feel most comfortable in?

— I feel comfortable playing anywhere in central midfield, whether as a number six, number eight or number ten. Whenever the coach gives me specific instructions, I try to do everything possible to carry out those tasks.

— What can you say about Jagiellonia? Would you describe the upcoming match as a decisive one for your team?

— I don't think this match can be considered decisive because we still have many games ahead of us. Jagiellonia are a strong team with some interesting players. I think it will be an exciting encounter. Both teams will be looking to secure their first victory in the Europa League.

— What kind of atmosphere are you expecting at the stadium in Białystok?

— Jagiellonia are playing at home, so they may have a certain advantage in that respect. But I think the atmosphere will also be enjoyable for us. We will do everything possible to win the match.

Manuel Tulipa: "The Favourite Will Be Decided on the Pitch"

— Jagiellonia have lost their last three matches and currently sit tenth in the Polish league. Does that make Ararat-Armenia the favourites for this encounter?

— A few defeats don't make a team an underdog. I've watched Jagiellonia's matches, including those they lost. Even in those games, they were very competitive and played good football.

Overall, Jagiellonia are a very good team with their own playing style and talented players. That's why I wouldn't identify a favourite in advance. Everything will be decided on the pitch.

In matches like these, small details can play an enormous role. That's exactly what happened against Sparta Prague, when set pieces largely determined the outcome. I think we can expect an unpredictable match.

— What is the condition of the injured Julio Bueno and Edgar Grigoryan? Will they be available for the match?

— Julio Bueno isn't ready to play yet. He returned from international duty with Armenia carrying an injury, and I think he will be out for approximately two weeks. He's currently with the team so that he can remain under the supervision of our medical staff.

As for Edgar Grigoryan, he has almost fully recovered. It's possible that he could be back on the pitch as early as tomorrow.

— What is the team's mood following the home defeat against Sparta Prague? What lessons did you learn from the opening match?

— We aren't as inexperienced in European competitions as some might think. In the nine years since the club was founded, Ararat-Armenia have played 35 matches in European competitions and recorded 14 victories. So we do have some international experience.

However, we're now competing at a different level. Of course, we learned lessons from the first match, particularly when it comes to the finer details.

In my opinion, we generally played well against Sparta Prague, but we made a few small mistakes. Correcting those errors has been our main focus over the past few days.

We understand that the Europa League is a very demanding competition and that Jagiellonia are serious opponents. Yes, the Polish team have lost three matches in a row, but personally, that means nothing to me.

Last season, Jagiellonia were a very strong team. They lost several important players during the summer, but the club has a long-term project and a clear direction for its development. That's why we expect a serious test.

— Zidan Banjaki has started the last six matches but hasn't registered a goal or an assist. Do you think he is fully realising his potential?

— We try to give opportunities to all our players. Every player is important to us over the course of a long season.

In the opening matches, Zhirayr Shaghoyan played a very important role. Then Zidan Banjaki demonstrated his qualities, for example by scoring against Celje.

Of course, you're right: I would like Zidan to be more productive in terms of goals and assists. But we have to understand that our wide midfielders have different responsibilities.

They're expected not only to score goals and provide assists but also to create chances, play creatively and open up space for their teammates. If you assess Banjaki from that perspective, I'm satisfied with his performances.

He combines well with his teammates and poses a significant threat in the final third.

Overall, I'm happy with all our wingers — Zidan Banjaki, Zhirayr Shaghoyan, Artur Serobyan and Fransa.

— Do you see any similarities between Ararat-Armenia and Jagiellonia in terms of their playing styles?

— Yes, there are certain similarities. Both teams use a 4-2-3-1 formation, so you can see similar principles in the way they build attacks and organise their pressing.

However, there are also quite a few differences.

The Polish league is more intense. Jagiellonia may have an advantage over us physically because players in the Polish league are involved in more physical duels, and matches are played at a higher tempo.

I have lived in Poland myself, so I'm very familiar with the characteristics of Polish football.

Nevertheless, if I compare the two teams, I would say we have more similarities than differences.

— Could the difference in weather conditions between Yerevan and Białystok affect Ararat-Armenia's performance?

— Absolutely, it's an important factor. It's very humid here at the moment. If it rains during the match, the game could be played at a tempo we're not accustomed to. There could also be a greater risk of mistakes in passing and ball control.

But both teams have to maintain their playing style regardless of the circumstances.

We've managed to do that before. When a team has its own philosophy and a clearly defined playing style, external factors shouldn't prevent it from sticking to its principles.

Of course, there may be mistakes, misplaced passes, turnovers and other difficulties. But for me, the most important thing is that the team continues to play the kind of football we want to see and know we are capable of producing.