Yuri Vernydub Gives an In-Depth Interview to Neftçi TV

We present an extensive interview with Neftçi PFK head coach Yuri Vernydub for Neftçi TV.

 

The Black-and-Whites' Summer Preparations

"Let's start from the very beginning. The team came together at Neftçi's training base in Baku on 20 June. We began an eight-day training camp in Baku. It certainly wasn't easy, but its purpose was to lay a solid foundation for the entire team. It was demanding and, to be honest, not the most enjoyable work for the players, although they understood why it was necessary. I had spoken to them about this beforehand.

For the first one or two days, we trained once a day. After that, we switched to two daily sessions – one during the day and another in the evening. At the end of this stage, we organised an internal practice match. Everything went very well, and the players were feeling good.

After every training session, we closely monitored the players' physical condition. We tracked the amount of work they completed, the training volume and the workload they were exposed to. This is extremely important for us. Our objective is to avoid pushing players beyond their limits, because excessive workloads can lead to minor injuries.

I believe we came through this stage very successfully. Afterwards, the players were given one day off before we travelled to Slovenia for a two-week training camp.

There, we had four friendly matches against strong opponents awaiting us. In my opinion, the camp was highly productive. The conditions were excellent, while both the training pitches and match facilities were prepared to a very high standard. Everything was organised perfectly.

I would like to thank the club's management for making this training camp possible and for arranging high-quality opposition for our friendly matches. We completed the entire preparation period without any significant issues or setbacks.

What surprised me, however, was the reaction after our first friendly defeat against CFR Cluj. Reports began circulating claiming that the players were unhappy because the workload had supposedly been excessive, that the coaching staff had overworked the team and that the players were unable to perform under such demands.

Nothing like that ever happened within our squad. I honestly do not know where those stories originated. Similar reports appeared in both the Ukrainian and Azerbaijani media, and I found them completely incomprehensible.

Everything was absolutely normal. As I have already said, every single day and after every training session we carefully monitored each player's workload, physical condition and intensity levels.

We use a modern GPS tracking system that accurately records how much every player works, the distance they cover and their overall performance during training. Therefore, there is really nothing to explain regarding this matter.

Of course, it was not easy for the players. They worked under demanding conditions, but that certainly does not mean we lost those matches because of the workload.

As you know, in each friendly we only played one half with each line-up. We had enough players to field two complete teams. That is why against CFR Cluj, Partizan, Radnički Niš and Osijek, each group only played one half.

Only in the match against Osijek did we allow one group of players to remain on the pitch for around 70 minutes. Those who played fewer minutes were given additional physical work after the match.

The same approach was used after every friendly. Whenever a line-up played only one half, we organised extra training afterwards so that the overall physical load would be equivalent to that of a full competitive match.

That sums up our training camps. After returning to Baku, we gave the players some time to recover before beginning preparations for our opening UEFA Conference League fixture against Dinamo Minsk."

 

Matches Against Dinamo Minsk

"Speaking about our elimination after losing to Dinamo, the first thing I want to say is that I take full responsibility. I am not afraid to say that. At this moment, it is difficult for me to explain exactly why it happened. However, it had nothing to do with the players' physical condition or any other similar factor.

In my opinion, the defeat was primarily down to our psychological preparation and mentality. That was the key element we lacked. I still cannot believe that after taking a 2–0 lead by the eighth minute, we eventually lost the match 4–2. I believe you all watched the game and saw the goals we conceded. All four resulted from elementary mistakes. That is simply the reality.

It is not easy to explain why it happened, but I will repeat that I believe the main reason was the players' psychological state and mental readiness. I know that many of them had never previously competed in tournaments of this level. Competitions like these are completely different from the Azerbaijan Premier League. I can say that with complete confidence.

I am deeply disappointed that we failed to progress to the next round. It is something that hurts me greatly. After the first leg, we drew the right conclusions. We prepared well for the return match and, in my opinion, produced a very good performance away from home.

Whereas after the first match I was extremely disappointed and struggled to understand what had happened, the second leg showed me a completely different side of the team. The players stepped onto the pitch with a different mindset, tremendous desire and determination. Physically, they also looked very good.

Around ten minutes before the end of the match, Breno Almeida suffered cramp. To me, that was proof that he had given absolutely everything on the pitch. It was not a consequence of excessive physical workload, but rather an indication that he had expended every ounce of energy for the team.

If we compare the second leg with the first match at home, there was a significant difference in every physical indicator – total distance covered, high-speed running, sprints and accelerations. All of those figures were considerably higher. That once again confirms that the problem in the first game was psychological rather than physical.

In the first leg, it was almost as if we did everything possible to lose the match, and in the end we were beaten 4–2. Unfortunately, in the return fixture we were just one goal away from taking the tie into extra time, where everything could have been decided either over the additional 30 minutes or in a penalty shoot-out.

That is football. Situations like this happen. It has been an important lesson for all of us, and we will learn from our mistakes. That is exactly what we are working on now.

After that match, we understood that our UEFA Conference League campaign had come to an end. We know that we begin the Azerbaijan Premier League season on 16 August. We still have two weeks to prepare calmly for the league campaign. We are working on the areas that did not satisfy us.

The players are approaching every training session with great responsibility and understanding. It is clear to see. There is absolutely no excessive physical workload.

Nor do I have any conflict with any of my players. Various reports appeared in the media claiming that Vernydub had disagreements with experienced players, or with the new signings. I am not someone who looks for conflict, and I want everyone to understand that.

The players also understand that discipline is the most important factor – in everyday life, during training sessions and especially in the official matches that await us in just over a week's time.

The atmosphere within the squad is good, and the team continues its preparations in a positive and professional manner. Yes, we understand that our UEFA Conference League journey has come to an end. It is extremely disappointing, but such things happen in football, and the most important thing is to remain patient.

I have faith in our supporters. They need to understand that they should stand by the team not only in victory, but at all times. Football is a game of both wins and defeats. The most important thing is that the team learns how to respond properly after a defeat, produces a better performance in the next match and earns the victory that provides the right response."

 

The New Signings Added to the Squad

"If we talk about the summer transfer window, we completed five deals, but in reality we added four new players. Vargas returned to the team, so although it is officially considered a transfer, he had already played for us before. He knows my working methods well, understands what we expect from him on the pitch, and we know his strengths and creative qualities. That makes things easier for me.

As for the four new players, I would like to start with Abbasov. He is an Azerbaijani player and currently a member of our national team. He is only 21 years old, and we have very high expectations of him because he is an extremely promising footballer. He has good pace, joins attacks very effectively and, just as importantly, immediately understands when he needs to recover defensively and gets back quickly. I believe we have signed a very good player. I am confident that he will prove himself and become one of the key members of our squad.

At the same time, he has strong competition. He will compete with Seck, and whoever performs better in that battle will earn the place in the team.

Regarding our second defender, Gravillon, I think he is a very interesting centre-back. He can also play at right-back, a position he has occupied before. In addition, he has played for his national team both as a defensive midfielder and as a central midfielder, which makes him a very versatile footballer. However, I primarily see him as a high-quality centre-back. He has all the attributes for that role: he is quick, physically strong, reliable in the air and wins a large number of duels. He is capable of playing both short and long passes at a very good level. His right foot is naturally stronger, but he also uses his left foot well. If we consider his right foot to be 100 per cent, I would comfortably rate his left foot at around 80 per cent. That gives us flexibility to change his position when necessary and cover areas where we may have problems.

Now let me speak about Gustavo Klismahn. He arrived from the Portuguese top division. He is a central midfielder who can play both as a number eight and a number ten, and he can also operate deeper if required. For example, we can change the midfield structure and play with two holding midfielders and one attacking midfielder. Technically, he is a very good footballer. In my opinion, he is a player who understands the game, makes the right decisions on the pitch and will bring significant value to our team. I believe he will help us look more organised and more effective in possession.

I also understand that many people are not yet satisfied with Tupta. I think the main reason is that he has not scored yet. People believe that a centre-forward must score goals. Everyone is entitled to an opinion, but when I selected this player, I studied him very carefully as a coach. First of all, he also came from the Greek Super League. In my view, he was one of the key players at his previous club because he not only scored goals but could also play across the entire attacking line. He is capable of playing on both wings as well as through the centre. Last season he scored eight goals in Greece, which is a very respectable return. Physically, he is in excellent condition. He performs a huge amount of work for the team, much of which may not be immediately visible to spectators. I am referring to the constant pressure he applies to opposition centre-backs and full-backs when we defend. Most forwards do not do that, but he does. Unfortunately, many people overlook that aspect of his game. Even in both matches against Dinamo Minsk, our GPS data showed that his work rate was very high and that he carried out his tactical tasks at a good level.

Of course, I understand the supporters as well. Everyone expects goals, and that is perfectly normal. The goals will come. We must not forget that these players have arrived from other countries and have only been in Azerbaijan for about a month. Everything is new for them: the lifestyle, the food, the environment and the training process. Adapting to all of that takes time. The more comfortable they feel as part of the Neftçi family, the sooner their qualities will be fully reflected on the pitch. I believe that firmly.

I would also like to ask our supporters not to draw conclusions after one or two matches. I have seen this before. When Breno first arrived, many people questioned why we had signed him. Yet later he became a very important player for our team. We finished fourth at the end of the season, and everyone should remember where we were at the beginning of the campaign and where we finished it. That is why we need trust and patience.

I understand that pressure exists, has always existed and will continue to exist. I am ready for it, and the players must be ready for it as well. They need to understand that Neftçi is a historic club in Azerbaijani football. I have never seen another club face the level of pressure that Neftçi faces. Other clubs operate in a more comfortable environment in that respect. We must accept that things will be difficult, but we must respond to that pressure through our football, our attitude to work, our training standards and our performances in official matches.

As head coach, together with my coaching staff and our recruitment department, we must prove that we were right in choosing these players. And the players themselves must prove that they are truly capable of strengthening Neftçi and helping this club fight for the highest objectives and ambitions."

 

Expected Transfers

"We are working very hard in this area. However, our objective is not to make signings simply for the sake of making signings. We want to bring in players of genuine quality – footballers who will make a real contribution to the team and help us achieve the objectives we have set. That is why our search continues today and will continue in the coming weeks. We still have time.

We are constantly searching for players and monitoring potential targets. Our scouting department presents us with a large number of candidates, and we carefully assess every single one of them. We have also slightly adjusted our recruitment process. Now, in addition to evaluating a player's footballing qualities, we also try to determine whether they are genuinely willing to come to Azerbaijan. Because identifying a player you like is one thing, while convincing him to join the club is something entirely different.

If they are willing to come, that will be excellent. If not, we will simply continue our search and keep working to strengthen the squad, because the team still needs further reinforcement. I believe that is clear to everyone – both to you and to me.

At the same time, it is important to understand that things are not as straightforward as they may appear from the outside. Wanting to sign a player is one thing; actually completing the transfer is another. As you know, there are financial considerations and transfer valuations to take into account. In many cases, I believe the financial demands and transfer conditions are simply too high.

That is why we carefully consider, discuss and evaluate every potential move. There is not a single day when we do not review the players recommended to us by our scouts. Every day we analyse new candidates and assess whether they are the right fit.

So there is no need to panic. I sincerely hope that, in the end, we will find exactly the players we are looking for – footballers with the right character, the right footballing qualities and the right profile for our team; players who will help us and make us even stronger."

 

About Our Academy

"I have a grandson who plays football. His name is Ivan – he is my son's son and he is 13 years old. He started playing football in Ukraine, taking his first steps in Zaporizhzhia before the war. After the war began, my son's family moved to Kyiv, where Ivan continued his development at Dynamo Kyiv's academy.

We have taken a slightly different approach to his future. Of course, I understand that he is my grandson, and naturally I would like him to develop at a top European academy. That is exactly what we are working towards now, and we already have several options. We do not want to lose any time.

I know that the Neftçi Academy is of a very high standard, and I have a great deal of respect for the work being done there. Because I regularly involve players from the U-19 and reserve teams in the first team's training sessions and at the moment two academy players are training with us. The academy has an excellent structure and a strong level of coaching.

However, I also understand that if I brought my grandson to the Neftçi Academy for a month or two, people might treat him differently. Some might say, 'He is the head coach's grandson,' and, consciously or unconsciously, they would probably give him special treatment. That is exactly what I do not want.

I know better than anyone that footballers who progress because of family connections or the reputation of their parents or grandparents rarely achieve real success. I want him to train at an academy where nobody will treat him differently, where he will be judged solely on his work, his performances and his development. He should be treated exactly the same as every other young player. That is why we made this decision.

In fact, that was not the only reason. My grandson himself told us that he wanted to work with a personal coach. We asked the club's management to help us with that. But, as you understand, individual training alone is not enough for a child who plays a team sport. If he were involved in an individual sport, I would agree with that approach. Individual coaches can certainly contribute to the development of team players, but I wanted him to spend these two months working fully within a team environment.

After 20 August, he is scheduled to attend a trial at a European academy. At the moment, we have two possible options and we will decide which one is the most suitable.

I want him to understand one important thing. The sooner he realises it, the better. He has great enthusiasm and a real desire to succeed. His father was a footballer, and his grandfather was both a footballer and a coach. But none of that will help him unless he does the work himself and is prepared to dedicate everything to becoming a professional footballer. The sooner he understands that, the better.

Perhaps everything will work out. If it does not, he will continue his education and choose another profession. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that. The only thing that truly matters to me is that he has exactly the same opportunities and conditions as everyone else.

I do not want my children or my grandchildren to receive preferential treatment simply because of who I am. The same applied to my son, Vitalii. What matters is that young players play, develop and eventually become top footballers.

Neftçi's first team already includes a number of academy graduates. Take Abbasov, for example. He came through the Neftçi Academy, then enjoyed an excellent season at Şamaxı, and we brought him back to the club. That is exactly how it should be.

Historically, the Neftçi Academy has always maintained very high standards, and I am confident it will continue to do so. Hopefully, other clubs will continue to develop as well—not only their first teams, but their academies too. That is essential for the growth of Azerbaijani football, for the progress of our shared work, and ultimately for the future of Azerbaijan itself."