Perković: “The team reacted well, and the fans created a wonderful atmosphere in Aberdeen”

A match of the UEFA Conference League’s 4th round took place in Scotland, where Yerevan’s Noah played out a 1:1 draw against Aberdeen. After the game, the Armenian club’s head coach Sandro Perković summed up his thoughts at the post-match press conference.

Sandro Perković’s Post-Match Press Conference

Opening statement by Sandro Perković

— I want to congratulate my players as well as Aberdeen. I think both teams performed well. In the first half, I wasn’t satisfied with our play — I felt something was missing, perhaps a particular player. Unfortunately, we conceded at the worst possible moment — right at the end of the first half. In the second half, we decided to change our tactics and play with two strikers. The team reacted very well, and just seven minutes into the second half we equalized.

Unfortunately, we missed a lot of opportunities to create dangerous chances. We lacked precise passes in the decisive phase and sometimes lost the ball near the opponent’s box. But overall, I am pleased with the performance, especially in the second half. We take one point and move forward. In the remaining matches, we will try to claim three points and reach the playoffs.

— How did you decide to use Thorarinsson in midfield?

— When analyzing Aberdeen, I noticed they struggle when the opponent plays with two defensive midfielders. So we built our structure accordingly. Thorarinsson actually started his career as a midfielder, and he played well. I also tested him in this position in a friendly against Gandzasar and saw he was very effective in central midfield.

— How would you comment on Ferreira and Grgić frequently switching wings in the first half?

— We wanted to dominate the match and play more aggressively, so Ferreira started on the left to push hard on that flank. But the idea didn’t work out, so they returned to their usual positions.

— If you had started the match the way you started the second half, would it have helped you play more aggressively and win?

— No, I don’t think so. In any case, we played in a balanced way in the first half, though we didn’t create many dangerous chances. We needed a player who could connect our game — and Matheus Aias has those qualities. That’s why I brought him on right after halftime. He came in, created many chances, and the goal was scored thanks to his assist. After a match it’s easy to analyze, but what matters is that during the game we identified what was missing and made the right adjustments.

— Our fans were very active. Did everyone hear their support?

— Yes, absolutely. Their support was very clear. Our fans created a wonderful atmosphere. They helped us a lot and are also a part of this result.

Noah’s goalscorer Nardin Mulahusejnović after the match

“When I step onto the field and see our fans, I feel proud — they support us in every match. In that episode, Aias gave me a great pass and I scored. This is a very important point for us, and we will continue fighting for qualification from the group.”