Sandro Perković: “We Have Done Something Very Big for Armenia”

The head coach of Armenian club Noah, Sandro Perković, summed up the match of the 6th round of the UEFA Conference League against Dynamo Kyiv, as well as the team’s overall performance in the league phase. Despite a 0–2 defeat, Noah earned enough points to reach the knockout stage of a European competition for the first time in the history of Armenian football.

Post-Match Press Conference of Sandro Perković

Opening statement by the head coach

“First of all, I want to congratulate the players on this historic achievement — reaching the knockout stage for the first time in history. I think this is a great achievement, and I am proud of it. We earned 8 points in the league phase — 2 wins, 2 draws and 2 losses — and we fully deserved to qualify for the playoffs.

As for the match itself, congratulations to Dynamo Kyiv. At the beginning of the game, we played in a balanced way and created several scoring opportunities. Eldar Ferreira, Mateus Aias and Nardin Mulahuseinović had good chances. Unfortunately, we failed to score.

In European competitions, when you play against a team like Dynamo Kyiv, you are punished for every mistake. We made those mistakes and conceded goals. For us, this was a good lesson. I believe Dynamo Kyiv is the strongest team we have faced this season.”

— Were you surprised by Dynamo Kyiv’s performance?

— No, it wasn’t a surprise. I knew what they were capable of. I wasn’t surprised by their lineup, although we expected a different forward. Overall, they met our expectations.

— What was missing in the second half? Maybe emotions after the match with Legia, or a short bench?

— I don’t think we lacked energy or emotions. In the second half, I saw that the players wanted to play — they pressed and tried to attack. Of course, the atmosphere was completely different — only 300 fans. At home against Legia, it was different with 10,000 supporters.

We had attacking moments where we didn’t use our chances well, and our crosses often didn’t get past the first defender.

— It is believed that the team needs reinforcement on the left wing during the winter transfer window.

— Today is a time to celebrate. For the first time, an Armenian club has reached the knockout stage of the Conference League. Today we will enjoy this moment, and tomorrow we will start thinking about transfers and working in that direction.

— What should we expect from Noah in 2026?

— In 2026, I promise that we will show such matches and such football that the fans will be satisfied and come to support us in even greater numbers.

— What does reaching the playoffs mean personally to you?

— We have done something very big for Armenia, something that will change a lot. I consider this a major achievement. In our squad, there were only two players who had previously played in European knockout stages: Jan Eteki with Granada and David Sualehe last season with Olimpija.

You may remember how difficult it was to qualify for the league phase, so reaching the playoffs is a unique achievement. I am happy and proud. Moreover, it will help us perform better next season and give us more confidence.