Former Azerbaijan national team and «Qarabag» defender Maksim Medvedev commented on the defeat against Ukraine in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
Maksim Medvedev— It was an impressive match with Ukraine. The team defended well, and overall, it was evident that both the defenders and midfielders were trying to follow the coach’s instructions. Of course, it’s dangerous to play open football against teams of that level. The choice of such a tactic is quite understandable. Counterattacks worked out well. Nariman Ahundzadeh’s moment was good, and he could have scored. There was a special segment after 1:2 when we had possession and were doing well in attack.
I think it will be even better in the future. Initially in the game, the difference was felt as the opponent dominated the field. They had an organized game. They posed threats to us on the flanks. But considering our chances, we could have turned the game around—either win or draw. However, let’s not forget how many times Shahruhudin Magomedaliyev saved us. It was a pleasure to watch this team fight for every ball and every part of the field, he said.
