Uzbekistan reached the quarter-finals at the recent Asian Cup and went out undefeated, on penalties against the host nation Qatar. How do you assess the performances and results of your team?
I think that we achieved a good result and that we left a positive impression. Our main problem was that we missed five players from our best XI. Nevertheless, we came very close to reaching the semi-finals. I think that we deserved to decide that game [against Qatar in the quarter-finals] in our favour, before extra-time and penalties.
Your best player, captain and top goalscorer Eldor Shomurodov missed the Asian Cup with a foot injury. How much did your team miss him?
It’s a shame that he was sidelined with that injury. I’ve been the national coach for two-and-a-half years, and he was never injured. If he had been
