“The final is a final, we have a responsible task ahead” – Ismailov

Head coach of the Uzbekistan U-17 national team, Islam Ismailov, attended a pre-match press conference ahead of the AFC U-17 Asian Cup final against Saudi Arabia.

“It’s a great feeling to play in the final. We’ve worked hard as a team to reach this point. Saudi Arabia is one of the strongest teams and we’ve faced them many times. But a final is a final, and we have a responsible task ahead. Both teams want to win. Our main goal is to triumph tomorrow and bring joy to our people,” said Ismailov.

The coach also shared insights into the team’s preparation for the final match.

“We’ve prepared for each match individually. There are no easy matches in this tournament. The final will be tough because mentality plays a crucial role. We’re doing everything we can to ensure the players are in peak condition. Fortunately, all our players are healthy and ready. We hope to deliver one of our best performances tomorrow and win,” he noted.

Ismailov placed particular emphasis on the team’s mentality going into the final.

“We respect our opponents but we’re not afraid of any team. We have our own style and aim to win with confidence and attractive football. That’s what we keep reminding the players. We also focused heavily on the players’ mentality in the match against DPRK. At this age, mentality can fluctuate. In football, no situation repeats itself. We must forget the result of our previous match and concentrate on winning the most important one,” he said.

For reference, Uzbekistan will face hosts Saudi Arabia in the AFC U-17 Asian Cup final tomorrow, April 20. The match kicks off at 20:00 Tashkent time.