Azerbaijan national team coach Diniyev: “It is a great shame that both our national teams are playing in the lowest league”
by Mantas Aliukonis
Former Azerbaijan national team captain and later head coach Shahin Diniyev coached the national team of this country, situated between the Caucasus Mountains and the Caspian Sea, from 1992 to 1996. The former head coach of russian Premier League side Terek Grozny (now Akhmat) and Azerbaijani powerhouse Qarabag of Aghdam agreed to share his thoughts with Mantas Aliukonis on the state of football in both countries.
The discussion also covered the problem of foreign players in the domestic championship, which, according to Diniyev, further undermines the already modest level of local players and their opportunities to develop and progress. The former Kapaz and Sabail head coach also recalled two Lithuanian footballers who played in Azerbaijan. But, as always, more on everything in the interview.
M.A.: Coach, do you remember any Lithuanian footballers who played in Azerbaijan, and what impression did they leave on you at the time?
S.D.: I remember Mindaugas Kalonas and Robertas Poškus very well. As for Mindaugas, I never had the opportunity to coach him personally, but I have only good memories of his time in Azerbaijan. At the time, he was one of the better foreign players and scored quite a few goals during his two seasons in Baku.
I also remember Robertas Poškus very well. He was a good striker who scored many goals for Inter Baku (now Shamakhi) when they became national champions. Both players left a very positive impression, were always exemplary in terms of discipline and, most importantly, played very well. I never worked with them personally, but from what I saw and heard about them, they worked hard and were true professionals.
The 60-year-old coach remains active in football coaching and is open to offers.
M.A.: Could you share your thoughts on the Lithuanian and Azerbaijani national teams?
S.D.: Both national teams are currently at the same level, as their most recent match demonstrated. I watched it. It is a shame that both teams are playing in the lowest League D. It is terrible, a disgrace, and there is no other way to describe it. I never thought that Lithuania and my compatriots would reach this point. This is the bottom rung, there is nowhere lower to go.
Most Lithuanian players play abroad, whereas for us it is the opposite, we do not have many players playing abroad. Even when they do play abroad, they do not always make the team.
Among Azerbaijani players, I would single out Mahir Emreli. He has been playing for Poland’s Rakow since the summer, having joined on loan from Kaiserslautern in the German second division. He is playing well there and scoring regularly (nine matches, three goals and one assist in the Ekstraklasa).
As for other players, I would mention Toral Bayramov, who belongs to Turkey’s Bursaspor but usually comes on as a substitute. We also have a few players in Ukraine and Romania, but they do not play regularly and usually only come off the bench.
M.A.: What is the situation with local players in the Azerbaijani leagues?
S.D.: This year, the limit on foreign players was abolished in Azerbaijan, meaning that all 11 players on the pitch can now be foreigners. As a result, local players are no longer getting playing time, and this negatively affects the entire football pyramid.
It also harms the national team because players without regular match practice cannot contribute as much as their opponents who play consistently. This is a major disadvantage for our football as a whole.
M.A.: Will the Azerbaijanis be motivated to beat Lithuania?
S.D.: Our national team is motivated to beat Lithuania. We tend to play more defensively, with a compact formation using three central defenders. I think the team will adapt and defend reliably, while looking for opportunities to break forward and create chances in attack. They have the quality and the tools to do that.
The match against Tajikistan, which I watched, showed that our national team is not in its best form, so Lithuania should try to compete and take points.
As for Lithuania, they are not a team that belongs among Europe’s elite, so I would rate the chances of both countries similarly. If either team wins, I do not think it will be by a large margin, because they are essentially equal at the moment, as their first match in Kaunas demonstrated.
I do not think we will see anything spectacular in the return match, as the opponents know each other. In terms of the result, I expect a close contest, and I wish both national teams good luck. The most important thing is that they play good football and make it interesting for the spectators to watch.
M.A.: What result do you predict?
S.D.: I do not think we will see many goals. I would give Azerbaijan a 55% to 45% advantage. I thought exactly the same before the first match, when I gave the Lithuanians a slight advantage.
We could put it this way: whichever team manages to score the first goal will have the best chance of winning, but I would not rule out a draw either.
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