The first leg of the UEFA Conference League second qualifying round ended in a goalless draw for FK Žalgiris, who hosted Northern Irish champions Linfield in a tense and physical showdown. Head coach of the Vilnius team, Vladimir Cheburin, shared his thoughts after the game.
“We expected a match like this,” admitted Žalgiris head coach Vladimir Cheburin during the post-match press conference. “We knew it wouldn’t be easy, there was a lot of battling in midfield, in attack, and in defense. I wouldn’t say it was a dirty game, but there were elbows. It was a hard fight for the full 90 minutes.”
Both teams created chances, with Žalgiris perhaps edging their opponents slightly in attacking output. However, neither side managed to convert those opportunities into goals. The result leaves everything to play for in the return leg in Belfast.
“The second match will be even tougher,” Cheburin added. “Now both teams know each other better. They know what to expect. The fight in Belfast will be real.”
The coach also addressed the absence of midfielder Giedrius Matulevičius from the starting lineup. The player was dealing with a deeply personal matter on the day of the match.
“Today was the funeral of Giedrius’ grandmother, the woman who raised him,” Cheburin revealed. “We couldn’t stop him from saying goodbye. He arrived at the stadium after the funeral.”
Despite the emotional toll and the challenges on the pitch, Cheburin expressed confidence in his team’s preparation and outlook.
“This is the Conference league, but we are on the champions’ path,” he emphasized. “Linfield is not just any team. We are expecting an extremely difficult match in the return leg. But I saw a lot of good signs today. Now, our focus shifts to what awaits us away from home.”
Source: https://fkzalgiris.lt/v-ceburinas-kovos-uzteko-visas-90-minuciu/
