Vahe Gevorgyan: “The Chances Are Now 50-50 Between Alashkert and CFR Cluj”

Alashkert head coach Vahe Gevorgyan and team defender Hakob Hakobyan answered journalists’ questions ahead of the second leg of their UEFA Conference League second qualifying round tie against CFR Cluj.

The first meeting between the teams, held in Yerevan, ended in a 1-1 draw. The return leg will take place in Cluj on July 30. The Armenian club’s representatives stressed that the team is prepared for different match scenarios and believes it can advance to the next round.

Vahe Gevorgyan, Alashkert head coach

— How do you assess your team’s chances of advancing to the next round?

— Before the first match, CFR were the favourites on paper, but I now assess the chances as 50-50.

— Is there a CFR player who is capable of making the difference?

— I do not like singling out individual players. CFR have a very good team. However, I can note that our opponents have quality wingers and strikers, including a player whom the club signed recently.

— Seven years ago, Alashkert faced CFR in the Champions League and lost. What can you say about that tie?

— That was a different Alashkert. Both the squad and the coaching staff were different. A great deal of time has passed, so that tie has no bearing on the upcoming match.

— After the first game, you said that you were very angry but that the team needed to focus on recovery. Have the players managed to recover fully?

— I was angry only because of the result, but I was pleased with the team’s performance. We had total superiority. The team is now fully ready. We are seeing progress from one match to the next, so we understand that we are on the right path. We expect to play even better in Cluj than we did in Yerevan.

— In the first half of the match in Yerevan, CFR played open football and tried to press, which caused them serious problems. In the second half, your opponents played much more defensively. What kind of approach do you expect from CFR in the return leg?

— We are prepared for both options. CFR are an experienced, high-quality team, and a place in the next round is at stake. We therefore have to be ready for any scenario.

— Will there be any tactical changes? Are Alashkert ready to take the initiative and dictate the terms of the game?

— We are a very flexible team. We can either take the initiative or play on the counter.

— How do you assess the adaptation of the team’s new signings at this stage?

— Our new signings are very high-quality footballers. We are trying to do everything possible to speed up their adaptation. I can say that none of them has reached his full potential yet. Provided that the adaptation process continues without any unforeseen setbacks, they will all be very useful to the team.

— Alashkert arrived in Romania only today and will play the match tomorrow. Could this cause any problems?

— I am grateful to the club’s management for arranging a charter flight to Romania. I think we will have enough time to recover.

— In the tie against Yelimay, the first match also ended 1-1, while the away leg finished in another draw. Do you see any similarities between the two ties?

— After the first match against Yelimay, based on the game and the level of the two teams, I had a feeling that everything could be decided in a penalty shootout. That is why we prepared specifically for it. To be honest, I do not have that feeling now.

— As a coach, which outcome would you prefer: an emotional victory in a penalty shootout or a convincing win in regular time? Is the team physically prepared for both possibilities?

— Of course, I would prefer a convincing victory within 90 minutes. We are in good physical condition and are improving from one match to the next. I think our physical condition in the return leg will be better than it was in Yerevan.

— In your coaching career, away matches have often gone better for you. Do you have a secret?

— I have also thought about and analysed the situation. I believe the psychological factor plays a role. Let us be honest: we do not have a huge army of supporters, so home matches do not always give us the additional emotion that we can experience during certain away games.

There will be a large crowd at the stadium in Cluj. We know what CFR’s supporters are like. My task as a coach is to use that atmosphere to our advantage. Matches like this provide additional motivation for our young players.

Hakob Hakobyan, Alashkert defender

— How do you assess your chances of advancing to the next round ahead of the return leg?

— If we analyse the first match, we had a significant advantage, especially in the first half. However, because the match ended in a draw, I assess the chances as 50-50. Of course, CFR were the favourites on paper before the first meeting, but through our performance and character, we demonstrated our strengths and showed that we want to win this tie.

— Who do you consider the most dangerous player in the CFR squad?

— I would not single anyone out. Our opponents have a strong team.

— How psychologically prepared is the team for the return leg after such a difficult first match?

— The first match was indeed difficult, but we had enough time to recover, analyse everything and correct certain aspects of our game. We are fully prepared for the match.

— You suffered an injury in the first match. Are you ready to play?

— Yes, I am ready to play. The injury was not serious. It was a minor muscle problem, but there are no issues now.

— Following the strong performance in Yerevan, has the team become more confident about achieving a positive result in the tie, despite CFR having been considered the favourites?

— Of course, we are confident. After the first match, we were disappointed that we had not managed to win. That is why we have a huge desire to win the return leg and advance to the next round.