I'm doing my job – Srechko Katanets

Srechko Katanets, the head coach of Uzbekistan's "White Wolves," spoke at a press conference following the 6th round of the 3rd stage of the World Cup qualifiers, reflecting on his team's performance and answering journalists' questions.

"We had a very good first half, creating some solid opportunities, but unfortunately, we couldn't capitalize on many of them. At the start of the second half, Bobur Abdukholikov missed a great chance and had he scored, it would have made the game much easier for us," said Katanets.

The coach also explained the difficulty of the match and the penalty situation:

"Football has moments like these that come out of nowhere. Yusupov saved the penalty, and we got the desired result. I don’t think any team plays perfectly for all 90 minutes. We played against North Korea under tough conditions—high humidity, time difference, and the late goal from Qatar. Despite missing some key players, those who stepped in were able to deliver positive performances," he added.

Katanets voiced concerns about the playing conditions in Laos, highlighting the risk to player health due to the quality of the pitches:

"The condition of the pitches in Laos is dangerous for players' health. The training ground quality was also poor. I don’t have complaints about the organization, but I do want to bring this issue to the attention of the Asian Football Confederation," he emphasized.

When asked about upcoming matches, Katanets expressed his determination:

"I'm doing my job. I want to thank the players for their support. We’ve earned 13 out of 18 points from six games. With four games left, we need to aim for 12 more points. Our goal is to qualify for the World Cup as early as possible, but we must keep the mentality to fight until the very last match. Winning tough games without our key players is no easy task," Katanets concluded.

Earlier, goalkeeper Utkir Yusupov, who played a crucial role in securing the win against North Korea, also shared his thoughts on the team's performance.