Odil Akhmedov: "National team is paying more attention to defensive game"

Uzbekistan national football team has been conducting training sessions in Tashkent since October 6. The team had their first complete training camp on October 10. The latest to join in the camp was Odil Akhmedov, the midfielder of "Shanghai SIPG" football club.

Kun.uz correspondent interviewed briefly the captain of Uzbekistan national team before the next training session.

What does Ector Cooper figure out more in tactical exercises?

- Every trainer has his own tactics and work style. More defensive football is being focused. This makes him different from other coaches.

Any problems and misunderstandings about the language?

- There is an interpreter. Besides, football has its own specific terms and players as well as coaches understand them pretty well. So, in my opinion, there is no problem with the language.

The national team has not been able to win nine games in a row and scored only two goals from penalty kicks in those games...

- It's a little difficult for us now. Because victory is very important. Whether this is a friendly match. If we are well prepared and win the match on the 13th, I think everything should go well.

In the Asian Cup, we are in the same group with Japan, the participant of 2018 World Cup. Can we turn into a competitor who can resist to the Japanese team and the entire Asians by January?

- This coach has different tactics. 1-2 weeks are not enough to inject it to the guys. It will take longer for each coach to show up his efforts. I think there is a possibility to reach certain results until the Asian Championship.

It should be reminded that Uzbekistan national team will hold friendly matches with representatives of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea on October 13, the Qatari national team on October 16. Both matches will be played at "National" stadium at 7pm.

Earlier some new details were released about an Argentinean football coach, Ector Cooper's activity and training process.