Garabagh head coach Gurban Gurbanov stated that his team was capable of a stronger performance following their match against Liverpool. Speaking at a post-match press conference, the head coach emphasized that while the result was disappointing, the team achieved its primary goal of advancing in the competition.
"We could have played better; this is not our true game. We are a better team than this, even though we were playing against Liverpool. In any case, we were defeated deservedly, but we also deservedly placed in the top 24. I congratulate our people. Everyone was looking forward to us securing a spot in the top 24," Gurbanov said, as reported by Operative Information Center-OMM.
The head coach noted that matches become increasingly difficult at this stage of the tournament as opponents grow stronger. He added that the team feels a mix of disappointment over the loss and joy for reaching the playoffs. "We could have put up a better fight. There were no easy opponents among the top eight teams. Every game and every stadium presented its own unique challenges," Gurbanov added.
The match, held at Anfield, ended in a 6-0 victory for Liverpool. Despite the heavy defeat, Garabagh finished the league phase in 22nd place with 10 points, successfully qualifying for the next round. With this achievement, the "Horsemen" have become the first club in the history of Azerbaijan to advance to the knockout stages of the UEFA Champions League.
Garabagh FK, based in Baku, has consistently represented Azerbaijan in European competitions over the last decade. Under the leadership of Gurban Gurbanov, who has been at the helm since 2008, the club has secured multiple domestic titles and reached the group stages of both the Europa League and the Champions League, significantly raising the profile of Azerbaijani football on the international stage.
