Tahir Gozel: “We will not abandon our style or our path"

Qarabag President Tahir Gozel speaks to the club website

The President of our club, Tahir Gozel, has given an interview to the official website, sharing his views on the UEFA Champions League league phase match against Liverpool, the team’s qualification for the play-offs and the result of the draw.

“Our team achieved another first in Azerbaijani football. This success was confirmed after a difficult match against Liverpool at Anfield. Finishing among the top 24 after the final round is a historic achievement for Azerbaijani football. This is not a coincidence, but the result of many years of hard work, patience and systematic development.

The match against Liverpool was tough, which is completely normal. As the level of football increases, the challenges also grow. Even the strongest teams in the world do not always get the results they want. That is why we see this match not as a tragedy, but as a valuable experience on our journey,” he said.

Tahir Gozel also underlined the importance of nationwide belief and support:

“Despite the heavy defeat to Liverpool, we secured qualification for the next round. For me, the most valuable part of this success is that our people continue to believe in the team. Regardless of the result, the whole country standing by Qarabag gives us great moral strength. The many messages of support we received are clear proof of this. Everyone understands how difficult it is to reach this level. The clubs we face have great history, strong financial resources and long-established football cultures. However, Qarabag has confirmed its place at this level not only with results, but also with its character.”

The club president also spoke about the emotional moments at Anfield:

“Hearing the chant ‘Martyrs never die, the homeland is indivisible’ in the stands and seeing our flag waving once again showed that Qarabag is more than just a football club. We represent the spirit and identity of a nation, and the world has seen this.”

Tahir Gozel expressed his gratitude to the fans and the football community:

“This success belongs not only to the club, but to the whole of Azerbaijan. A more difficult and responsible stage awaits us, but we will continue to represent our country in Europe with dignity.”

Commenting on the play-off draw, he added:

“Reaching the play-off stage of the Champions League is a dream for every club. At this stage, it is about character, belief and spirit. Facing a club from one of Europe’s top leagues is both a responsibility and a source of pride. Newcastle United’s visit to Azerbaijan will be a celebration for our football fans. We will fight until the final whistle and give everything on the pitch. I have full confidence that our players will prove they belong at this level and will represent Azerbaijan with honour.”