Sandro Perković: “Universitatea are a rare tactical setup, but we know how to deal with them”

The head coach of Yerevan’s Noa football club, Sandro Perković, held a pre-match press conference ahead of the UEFA Europa Conference League 2025/26 second-round group stage game against Romanian side Universitatea Craiova.

During the press conference, the Croatian coach answered questions from both Armenian and Romanian journalists. The Romanian media were particularly curious about possible “information espionage” by Noa’s staff and the club’s financial capabilities — especially surprised to learn that former Universitatea player Takuto Oshima now plays in Yerevan with double the salary he earned in Craiova.

Perković responded with a smile, saying that the club does not use such methods and prepares exclusively in a professional manner.

Sandro Perković’s Press Conference

— How do you assess your opponent, and what are their strengths?
— They are a good team with quality players, having a solid season. I don’t want to single out anyone — they have several really talented footballers, but so do we. We started the group stage with a home victory, and we want to continue in the same way away from home. We’re glad to have the opportunity to play at this level — we’re very motivated for the upcoming game and want to make our fans proud.

— The Universitatea coach said he watched 16 of Noa’s matches. How many have you seen, and how do you plan to surprise them?
— It seems their head coach has more free time than I do. We prepared for this game based on their last 7–8 matches. I’m confident we have a full picture of our opponent’s abilities and just as confident in our own game. I don’t want to reveal all our cards before the match. I can say that Universitatea are a very good team — they’ve played some fantastic games. They use a tactical system that’s quite rare in European football: three central defenders, two very attacking wing-backs, three strong holding midfielders, and two powerful forwards. We’ll need to perform at our best to succeed.

— What can you say about newcomer Saintini? Has he adapted well, and can he replace Gonçalo Silva?
— He’s adapted very well, playing excellently, and he’s a great person. So far, I’m satisfied with his performance, but in football, you have to prove yourself in every game. Tomorrow is another opportunity for him to show he deserves a place in the starting lineup. He didn’t come here to replace Gonçalo Silva — all our players are important to us.

— Could this game be decisive for qualifying to the knockout stage?
— Yes, you’re right, every game is crucial. It’s not only important to get three points — goal difference also matters. Last season, we saw many teams fail to advance because of that. Every detail counts. I hope we can take something positive home from here.

— What aspect do you think will be the key in this match?
— That’s a tough question. Every small detail matters — every throw-in, every free kick can be decisive. We want to control the game for all 90 minutes.

— What is the condition of your team before the match?
— All the players are fully fit. They’re very motivated and can’t wait for the game.

— In the last five matches, Noa scored five goals, three of them from set pieces. How are you addressing the finishing problem?
— Set pieces are an important part of football, and we dedicate a lot of training time to them. But I agree — we’ve had some finishing problems recently. That can only be fixed through hard work. We’ve created enough chances, just lacked precision — sometimes that happens even when you’re doing everything right and the ball just doesn’t go in. I’m confident we’ll overcome this phase.

— What did Takuto Oshima tell you about Universitatea Craiova?
— Nothing. He just said himself that he didn’t want to reveal any secrets of his former club. I completely agree with him.

— Can you confirm or deny that Noa has strong financial backing and that Oshima was offered twice his Romanian salary?
— I can’t disclose such details. I’m just the coach — that’s the sporting director’s responsibility.

— Did you try to get information about Universitatea from Dinamo Bucharest’s coach Željko Kopić, with whom you’ve worked before?
— No, of course not. We prepared for this match the same way we do for all others. Nowadays, there are enough ways to study your opponent — no need to ask other coaches.

The match Universitatea Craiova vs. Noa will take place on Thursday, October 23, in Craiova. Kick-off is at 11:00 PM Yerevan time.

Earlier this season, Armenian and Romanian teams already faced each other in the Conference League — in the second qualifying round, Ararat-Armenia defeated Universitatea Cluj.

Takuto Oshima returns to Craiova: “It will be a special match for me.”