Fans blame Qarabag coach Gurban Gurbanov for substitutions after 4-2 loss to Ajax

 Qarabag fans and local media criticised head coach Gurban Gurbanov for what they called unsuccessful substitutions during Tuesday’s 4-2 home defeat to Ajax in a key Champions League match.

The main controversy centred around Nariman Akhundzade, who came on in the 59th minute with Qarabag leading 2-1 and replaced Leandro Andrade, one of the team’s most active players at the time.

Asked about the decision at the post-match press conference, Gurbanov said he understood the criticism.

“People discuss Nariman a lot. I myself don’t know what to say,” the coach said. “Maybe what I say will contradict what the fans think. Of course, Nariman could have played better today. And not only him, but other substitutes as well.”

Fans also questioned the 70th-minute replacement of Camilo Duran, who had scored Qarabag’s opening goal, with Oleksiy Kashchuk.

“From the start of the match, Camilo Duran did a lot of sprint work. He spent a lot of energy and got tired,” Gurbanov explained.