Head coach of FC Sheriff, Yuri Vernidub, on the return match of the second qualifying round of the Champions League against FC Alashkert:

 

- Yuri Nikolaevich, share your emotions. Victory 3: 1, on aggregate 4: 1 ...

- I told you the day before that the game will not be easy. 1-0 is not the confident score. Which guarantees a pass to the next round. We started sluggishly. I warned not to sit in our own half. It was necessary from the first minutes to make it clear that we are the hosts. It didn't work out, we missed it. Apparently the boys were very excited. And then, we had enough chances, but the opponent, in principle, did not have them. I don't remember scoring chances at our goal. We scored three goals and created enough chances. Satisfied with the result, pleased with the game, pleased with the advancement to the next round. We have completed the minimum task. But, we don't have to think about it, and I told the boys about it in the dressing room. We are still on the way, we must go forward. This is a novelty for me. Where I really want and dream to get, it's very interesting to play.

 

- How does Castaneda feel?

- I think everything will be fine. He is the captain, and if he gets hit he will get up. Now the task is to recuperate, think about rotation. On the 31st we have a game with FC Floresti. Let's not forget that we still have Championship games. We lost the first round, and we need to correct the situation. We'll keep thinking. We have two days. We will be recovering tomorrow.

 

- Before the match, you said that you only think about the upcoming match. Now can you imagine, Crvena Zvezda or Kairat, with whom you would like to play?

- I do not want to offend either Kairat or Crvena Zvezda. Whoever wins, we will play with those. For me, maybe it's better with the Serbian Champion, because it's not so far to fly. It's a long flight to Kazakhstan, and the Championship is in full swing. May the strongest win.

 

- The fact that the away goal no longer played a special role, did it affect the preparation for the game, and what did you say to the players after missig a goal in 10 minutes?

- I don’t think that something influenced. I said at the very beginning that this is in favor of strong clubs. Because those clubs that lack great players, like in strong teams, scoring a goal away nurture hope. Yes, we misseat 10 minutes and the chances were evened. Well done boys, who did not stop, went ahead, scored one, the second. We didn't score more, that's bad. In the second half, we chose defense. They had to think, because they had to score, and we had to quickly carry out our attacks during the tackling. That is what we did.

 

- Is Luvannor in the dressing room the same leader as on the pitch?

- I am very glad that this player plays with us again. He has leadership qualities, which is very good. An experienced footballer who proves with his play, his attitude to the training process. God rewards him. He has already scored 4 goals in 4 games.

 

- Did the support of the stands help you today?

- It helped a lot. I have already said and will repeat: I bow to everyone who came today and supported FC Sheriff. It is very nice. We play for the fans. It is clear that for ourselves too, but games without fans are not so happy. And so was the fanzone, which drove the boys forward, and the rest of the fans helped us. Once again, many thanks to all. Come, support, and we will try to present everyone with a good game and please.

 

- Can we say that a bright victory was won today?

- Not only today. And I can call the last victory a bright one. All victories, in my understanding, are bright. They bring joy. Defeats are disappointing. Therefore, I want to wish FC Alashkert good games, so that their path in Europe will be long and will be able to reach the group stage.