Comments from our head coach, Mirko Jelicic, following the match against Nasaf.
— The match went pretty much as we expected. We prepared thoroughly for it, and it was an aggressive game. Nasaf always play attractive football. They have their own footballing culture and style. It is great to have a team in Uzbekistan that consistently performs at a high level. Today was another match of that kind. Considering the chances created, it was an even contest because both teams created good opportunities. Matches like this can be decided by a single mistake or a spectacular goal, but neither happened today. That is why 0–0 was a fair reflection of the game.
— Are you satisfied with the quality of the performance?
— Yes. Nasaf are in good form at the moment, and they have demonstrated that over the past few months. The same can be said about us. However, you always realise that there is room to make the team better. We will work on our weaknesses. The season is not over yet. Today, we were a little short when it came to finishing our chances. You could say that we controlled the game, but we were unable to turn that into a victory.
— Nasaf played an AFC Champions League match three days ago. Do you think the pressure on them may have contributed to a more cautious approach? Lokomotiv also face Neftchi in three days. Could it be said that your team were saving energy for that match?
— If you are not ready to play again after three days, then you are doing something wrong. In my opinion, three days is enough time for a standard preparation period. We have had many spells this season when we played almost every three days. You play a match at a high tempo and then have three days to recover. In many countries, teams play every three days throughout the season. We do not have that kind of schedule here yet. In fact, I see that as a positive.
— When Lokomotiv’s media department announced the starting lineup, we saw five defenders. However, the team played with four defenders for almost the entire match and even used a back three in certain situations.
— These decisions actually depend on how the opponent sets up in defence and attack. Once we saw that Nasaf were not playing with five defenders, we made adjustments quickly. We wanted to use the width of the pitch more effectively in attack. When we asked the match commissioner to make a change to the team sheet, we were told it was already too late. Apparently, a player who had been removed from the starting lineup could not then be brought on as a substitute. So we had already made a change that could not be reversed. You could say that we were unable to start the match the way we had planned.
— Journalists always like to ask teams about their objectives for the season. After all the talk at the start of the campaign and considering your current position in the table, perhaps the ambition to finish in the top four or five has grown. Some teams say they want to discover young players, while others place the greatest importance on the quality of their football.
— Yes, there are many aspects to consider. A lot of teams currently have talented players. As you work throughout the season, you gradually discover what you are looking for. You may even feel that the club is doing things the right way. But the most important thing is that there is quality and talent here. Asia has an abundance of talent, and we are working hard to improve in that area as well.
The team’s current situation, the club’s history and many other factors are also very important. You have to keep working across every area of the club. Things do not always turn out the way you expect, which is why there is always something that can be improved.
Having weaknesses is a good thing because it gives you something to work on. As more matches are played, those weaknesses become more apparent. If you fail to address them in time, things can get worse. That is when football becomes predictable and formulaic. Here, however, the quality of the players allows you to experiment in many different ways. As a coach, I really appreciate that.