"We are using all possible means to strengthen the team"

The president of our club, Tahir Gozel, gave a statement to our website on the eve of Qarabağ’s first home match of the 2025–2026 season. He shared his thoughts on the first leg of the UEFA Champions League second qualifying round match against Shelbourne in Ireland, his expectations for the return leg in Baku, and the club’s transfer plans:

“Our team started the new season with a Champions League match. Qarabağ, participating in Europe’s most prestigious club tournament for the 11th time in its history and for the 4th consecutive year, once again began its campaign from the second qualifying round, just like last year. We faced Shelbourne in Ireland in the first leg. It was a tough game with difficult moments. I’m happy that we ultimately secured a 3-0 victory. However, this result should not make us complacent. The opponent is the champion of Ireland. In general, the qualifying and play-off rounds of the Champions League involve the best teams of their respective countries. Therefore, regardless of who we face, there are no easy opponents. Our team understands this well. I know that our head coach, Gurban Gurbanov, and his technical staff prepare the team for every match with great responsibility. I have full confidence in our team's determination to win. The team is also seriously preparing for the second leg. That match will be our first home game of the season. I want us to secure victory in front of our fans with a beautiful and worthy performance and advance to the next round. I invite our supporters to come to the stadium and cheer for our team. Our players draw extra strength and motivation from them. We want to move to the next round together with our fans. As always, our goals this season are big. Shelbourne is just the first step toward those goals. I believe our team will once again make the fans proud this season with its success in European competitions and domestic tournaments.”

Our club president also touched on transfers: “We have started the new season with new signings. Some of them have already played, both in the friendly matches during our training camp in Austria and in the game against Shelbourne. Others will get their chance in upcoming matches. I believe they will be useful to the team throughout the season and will help us achieve success. We still plan to make new transfers. While our head coach and the technical staff are preparing the team for matches, they are simultaneously working on transfers. We are trying to bring in players that they see as necessary to strengthen certain positions. We are looking for players for the front line — strikers and attacking support positions. If opportunities arise to bring in players who can contribute in other positions as well, we will strengthen the squad with them too. We are doing everything we can. I believe we will achieve our goals soon. Our fans want to see a stronger Qarabağ, and they expect new signings. They can be sure that we are using every possible means to strengthen the team. We will make the necessary transfers for the needed positions.”