What did the head coach of "Pakhtakor" say before the match against "Al Hilol"?

Paxtakor head coach Pedru Moreyra and midfielder Jonatan Lukka participated in a press conference organized before the match against "Al Hilal" in the quarter-finals of the Elite Asian Champions League.

“Good evening to everyone. We know it will be a tough match, especially after the away game. "Al Hilal" is an extremely strong team. Our opponent always tries to control the game and possess the ball, especially when playing at home. They concede very few goals, even in the Elite league.

In the first match, we managed to stop "Al Hilal". We had a great game in Tashkent and created enough problems for such a strong opponent. Tomorrow we will try to show good football and achieve our goal as much as possible,” said Pedru Moreyra ahead of the match.

- How difficult was it to prepare for the match against Jorge Jesus's team? You have faced Jorge Jesus during your time at "Braga" and "Porto"...

- First of all, I must emphasize that we are talking about a very strong specialist. Jorge Jesus is the coach with the most trophies among the coaches participating in this competition. I mentioned this before the last game. It determines the level of this coach. Also, Jorge Jesus set a world record for an unbeaten streak with "Al Hilal" last season. Jorge Jesus is not a new person for me. I have worked with him before, but I do not want to talk about it (laughs). I have great respect for Jesus, but we are rivals. As a new team, we will face a squad that has been playing together for two years on the field tomorrow. We must acknowledge this.

In the last match, we managed to defeat "Al Hilal" with our excellent game. We did not give the opponent any chances. In the match in Tashkent, our opponent had only one clear shot. Tomorrow, however, the game will be under a completely different scenario. We know how they play at home.

- "Al Hilal" shows a "terrifying" game at home, but your team won the first match. Does the result recorded in Tashkent give your players a psychological advantage?

- If you remember, last week I was asked what style of play you would choose against "Al Hilal", defensive or attacking. We prepare for all scenarios. This is the playoff stage of the Elite ACL, and the level of opponents is extremely high. We are preparing for a long season, but our initial games coincided with the Elite ACL.

The players have united and become one family. We believed in our strength and the football we are showing. We have already won in this situation. We were the last team to advance to the playoff stage. We secured eighth place in the table. "Al Hilal" finished the group stage in first place. We need to continue like this in the future. We will adapt to changes during the game and look for new directions. We need to fight for our future.

Let me also touch on what Jonatan said. I watched several home matches of the "Al Hilal" team. The fans support their favorites well. Tomorrow will be difficult for us, but "Paxtakor" fans will also support us from the stands. This is very important for us. I have been able to get closer to the people of Uzbekistan, and this is my greatest victory.

- I know you don't like to focus on individual skills of players because football is a team game. Which players in the "Al Hilal" team do you consider individually strong? Which player could pose more danger to "Paxtakor"?

- If I start talking about this topic, our conversation will last until morning. I can talk about everyone from the goalkeeper to the players. "Al Hilal" is one of the strongest teams in the region. Everyone knows this. We have studied the opponent. Analyzing "Al Hilal" is not difficult, but stopping them is hard. We have studied the strengths and weaknesses of the opponent. We are in a situation where we must fight until the end. I do not want to use this term, but we are currently living in the dream of the time when I just arrived at the club. We are now in the reality we dreamed of. I have not been at the club for long; I am a new specialist here. I learned about the club, then the players, the country. I am Portuguese, but I am also responsible for the Uzbekistan flag. We must enjoy this process now and just show our football.

- What could be the most challenging aspect of tomorrow's match for "Paxtakor"? For example, not conceding an early goal, and so on.

- In my opinion, playing in the atmosphere created by the fans. "Al Hilal" fans support their team well. Tomorrow, the fans will put a lot of pressure on us. We need to overcome this pressure. All of this is being done for the future of the "Paxtakor" team.

- The attacking game of the "Paxtakor" team is mainly built around Flamarion and Riaskos. What can you say about the bench? What if a turning point is needed in the game? Because in the previous two games, "Paxtakor" won, so there was no opportunity to see the potential of the bench...

- Yes, of course. If any player could not enhance the game, they would not have come this far with the team. We play as 11. The important thing is not to concede a goal; if we do not concede, we will be closer to victory. Even the attackers must help in defense. I care about how my team plays. About what our plan and style will be. We are preparing not only for tomorrow's match but also for the Super League matches. A long season awaits us, and I fully trust my team. You will see what kind of game we can show and what we are capable of during the season. Thank you all for your attention.