“I Can’t Remember Such Bad Luck”: Melikyan After Armenia’s Defeat to Cyprus

Armenia national team head coach Yeghishe Melikyan commented on the defeat to Cyprus in the third round of the UEFA Nations League.

The match in Nicosia ended in a 2-0 victory for the hosts. Armenia conceded twice in the first half and played with a numerical advantage from the 52nd minute, but were unable to rescue the match.

After the game, Melikyan spoke about the reasons for the defeat, the numerous injuries in the squad, Arsen Beglaryan’s performance and preparations for the next match against Montenegro.

Yeghishe Melikyan’s press conference after Cyprus 2-0 Armenia

— How would you assess today’s game?

— It was a painful defeat, and we did not deserve it. I am not going to link it to our problems because I do not want us to look for excuses. I cannot remember us ever having this much bad luck.

We started the game well, but then there was a series of mistakes. After that, we had to try to save the match. At the same time, our quality players are injured, and we did not have enough resources to rescue the game.

In any case, we tried. I did everything I could and took every possible risk — I went all-in to try to make something happen in attack. When we had no attacking players left, I sent Georgiy Harutyunyan up front. We were left with three players in defence, while everyone else was attacking. But since our opponents were playing with ten men, it was worth taking that risk.

It is very frustrating that Garibyan was injured before the game. He had been named in the starting line-up, but he picked up an injury during the warm-up before the match. Then Bandikyan was injured during the game. I think he broke his leg.

I do not understand why we have so many injuries. We already have 14 injured players. It is some kind of run of bad luck.

We are very disappointed, and I apologise for the result. I am not going to look for anyone to blame. I am responsible for the result. I am the head coach.

We need to leave all of this behind. In three days, we have another match, against Montenegro. We need to prepare the team for that game and finish this international window. After that, we will have the opportunity to analyse everything and understand how to move forward.

I am satisfied with the players — with their commitment to the game and to the team. But if we failed to score, then we are all to blame. We have to move forward.

— Armenia started the tournament with several absences, and the number of injured players has increased during the competition. How will you prepare the team for the match against Montenegro in these circumstances?

— Even before the start of the tournament, I said that we had major problems and too many absences. But people told me I was looking for excuses. I was simply explaining the situation.

I am grateful to the players who are fighting until the very end to help us get out of this situation. I said that this was a difficult period for the national team, and after every game it becomes even more difficult.

Today, for example, Artur Serobyan, who is very important for us, did not play. Edgar Sevikyan played instead, and he lacks regular playing time. He played as well as he could. Miranyan also lacks match practice. They all worked very well, but the lack of playing time has an effect. As for Narek Grigoryan, I honestly cannot even remember when he last played before this.

And on top of all that, we have a large number of injuries.

Yes, people can criticise me. They have every right to do so. I accept it, and the players accept it. But we are not going to let that discourage us. We will keep working. It only makes us stronger.

I told the players that we are all adults and understand that our fans are disappointed because of the defeat, and we have to accept that.

Now we need to preserve the team spirit, keep working and look for solutions. It will be difficult, but we have to do it.

— If Garibyan and Serobyan had played, would it have changed the course of the match?

— Of course. They are both important players, both know how to score and have already scored goals, and today goals were exactly what we lacked.

Today we needed a tall striker, and we also lacked Serobyan’s creativity and shooting. And I am not even talking about the other players.

Right now, I do not even know who I can use to replace Bandikyan. This is already our fourth loss at right wing-back — and that is just one position.

We have what we have.

— Do you think the team had not recovered mentally from the defeat to Montenegro?

— I do not think so. The team came into the game in a good mood and was ready for the match. But conceding an early goal, and conceding such silly goals, can break a team.

At half-time, I tried to help the players overcome all of that. For me, today was the unluckiest game I have had with the national team — there was simply too much bad luck. Injuries, such silly goals. But these things happen in football.

I told the players not to look for anyone to blame within the team. The fans and journalists can look for someone to blame — that is their job.

One or two defeats must not break our group. We have to stay together as one team.

— What can you say about Arsen Beglaryan’s performance?

— I do not want to say anything about him. He is a smart guy and understands everything himself.

We wanted to give him a chance, considering his experience and his recent matches. From speaking with him, we understood that he is mentally strong. He has been through a lot with the national team and played against Turkey under enormous pressure, so we believed he would cope.

We also have Mishiev and Matinyan. They are good goalkeepers, but it is still too early for them. They need to gain experience through other matches, so we decided to rely on experience. But it did not work.

We will think about who to start in the next match.

In any case, Arsen is our player. His mistake is our mistake.