On August 14, a press conference was held in Yerevan by the head coach of "Pyunik," Yeghishe Melikyan, before the return match against "Ordabasy" in the Conference League.
The first match ended with Pyunik's victory, 1-0. The return game will take place on August 14 in Yerevan at 20:00 Yerevan time.
— What do you think about the FFA's statements regarding the "Hrazdan" stadium?
— We really wanted to hold matches at the "Hrazdan" stadium, but there are safety standards. I support the FFA's decision. For us, the safety of the fans comes first. There is a law, and if something is prohibited, so be it.
— How will you compensate for the loss of the injured Lucas Villalba?
— I’m already used to such situations. There are always difficulties, but I have always found a solution and will find it this time as well. However, this year we have had many losses. Lucas Villalba was in excellent form, and it will be hard to replace him.
— What can you say about Serge Deble?
— He was also an important player, just like six other players we were counting on. He is currently continuing his recovery.
— What strengths of "Ordabasy" impressed you?
— They didn’t surprise us; everything we expected was confirmed. We know what to expect tomorrow. We are thoroughly preparing to avoid surprises and will be ready for anything. I think the team is fully prepared for the game. Tomorrow, "Ordabasy" will try to recover. They have tall players, and they will actively use aerial passes. We certainly don’t intend to play to maintain the score; that would be a mistake on our part. We know how to win tomorrow. The 1-0 score is the most dangerous, so we are mentally preparing for the game, starting from 0-0.
Tomorrow, we are expecting a tough match, and we hope for the support of the fans—without them, it will be difficult for us to win.
— What work has "Pyunik" done at the "Hrazdan" stadium?
— Yes, work was done, and we trained there. But it no longer matters since we won't be playing there.
