Melikyan after Montenegro draw: “I’m incredibly proud of my players — this team has a future”

Armenia head coach Yeghishe Melikyan commented on the draw against Montenegro in the fourth round of the UEFA Nations League. The match in Podgorica ended 0-0.

After the game, the Armenia coach first highlighted the character shown by his players, who approached the match amid a large number of injuries and physical problems.

— I’m incredibly proud of my players. Իրանց ցավը տանեմ (“Irants tsave tanem” — ed.). Only I know how the team approached this fourth match — with an enormous number of injuries. We proved a lot with this performance.

Melikyan also spoke about the players who were ready to take the field despite carrying injuries.

— There were players who came to me in pain and asked to be allowed onto the pitch. The first was our captain. Spertsyan has now played four matches while dealing with pain. That is what a true leader and captain should be like.

— I don’t want to single anyone out individually, but they did a great job. Discipline, dedication, character — everything I wanted to see, I saw today.

Melikyan explains his trust in Beglaryan and Karlen Hovhannisyan

The head coach also reflected on the previous match against Cyprus, in which Armenia suffered a defeat.

— Yes, we were unable to beat Cyprus. Arsen Beglaryan and Karlen Hovhannisyan made serious mistakes. But I wanted to prove to everyone that players are not punished for mistakes in the Armenia national team. We are one group. We have to support players who make mistakes, encourage them and continue to believe in them.

That is why both players returned to the field against Montenegro.

— I knew people would be waiting to see what happened if Arsen Beglaryan made another mistake. But I believe in my players, and I am prepared to take any risk to prove that.

Melikyan also thanked the Armenian supporters who travelled a long distance to back the national team in Podgorica.

— I’m grateful to the fans who travelled such a long way and stood by us. This team has a future. It is a young national team, and we have to continue believing in these players and move forward together.

Armenia went through the international window with numerous absences

Eduard Spertsyan was left out of Armenia’s starting XI against Montenegro because of an injury, but the captain came on in the second half.

Artur Garibyan, who was also recovering from an injury, entered the game after the break. He had suffered the injury during the warm-up before the match against Cyprus.

Earlier, Artem Bandikyan had left the national team camp because of an injury, while Edgar Sevikyan was unavailable against Montenegro due to suspension.

Over the course of the four matches in this international window, Armenia were unable to call upon as many as 14 players for various reasons, primarily because of injuries.

After four rounds, Yeghishe Melikyan’s team have collected 4 points and sit third in Group C2.

Armenia will play their next matches in November. On November 12, they will host Cyprus in Yerevan, before travelling to Riga to face Latvia on November 15.

The coaching staff will hope to have some of the injured players back for the November fixtures, allowing Armenia to approach the decisive group-stage matches with a stronger squad.

Beglaryan made the saves, Iwu won the ball back: Armenia’s best performers against Montenegro