"We did our maximum in one day" - Abbasov on the match with Ukraine

The first point we earned will give us additional confidence and strength.

As reported by BAKU.WS with reference to Oxu.Az, this was stated by the acting head coach of the Azerbaijan national team Aykhan Abbasov at a press conference after the match with Ukraine in the 2026 World Cup qualification.

"I told the players to fight until the end, regardless of the score. The support of the fans played a big role. Emin Makhmudov was very tired, but didn't want to leave the field - the fans pushed him forward. This point is important for our progress. The opponent was very strong, both teams were tired. I am especially happy for Emin Makhmudov - he had been dreaming of scoring this goal for a long time. I want Azerbaijani football to move forward. I hope we will have more successful games ahead. I thank the players for their dedication - they tried to show our true potential. For a long time, there was a decline in morale in the national team, perhaps the players were going onto the field under pressure.

Special thanks to the fans who didn't leave us even in difficult moments. We had very little time - just one day, but we did the maximum possible: we tried to raise the psychological spirit of the team and conduct a minimal analysis of the opponent to neutralize their attacks," Abbasov noted.

Recall that the Azerbaijan - Ukraine match, held at the Tofik Bakhramov Stadium, ended in a draw - 1:1.