Georgia is a tough opponent, coach says

PanARMENIAN.Net - Armenia will face Georgia in the UEFA Nations League 2024/2025 play-off match on March 20 at Yerevan’s Vazgen Sargsyan Republican Stadium.

Armenia’s head coach, John van’t Schip, acknowledged that Georgia is a tough opponent, as reported by Armsport.am.

"I’ve faced the Georgian national team before while coaching Greece. The team has made great progress in recent years, even qualifying for Euro 2024. They are a strong opponent. For us, this is a great challenge—understanding how a small country can achieve such success," he said.

He noted that the team had limited preparation time, but the players have shown dedication and positive energy.

"We’ve been here for three to four weeks, watching many Armenian Premier League matches. We have kept the national team open to all deserving players and will continue monitoring them," he stated.

The newly appointed coach emphasized the importance of focusing on the quality of training camps and gaining a deeper understanding of Armenian football.

"Our main goal is to prepare well for the World Cup qualifiers. In the short term, we have an important match tomorrow, and we’ll aim to perform well.

Unfortunately, Spertsyan and Zelarayan won’t be available for tomorrow’s match, but this is a great opportunity for other players to prove themselves," he added.

Regarding potential restrictions on foreign players in the Armenian Premier League, van’t Schip said it was too early to make assumptions.

"I support the idea of giving Armenian players more playing time and participation in the Armenian Premier League," he concluded.

The return match will take place in Tbilisi on March 23.