Portuguese media focus on Kady, ignore Qarabag coach Gurbanov

At a press conference in Lisbon ahead of Qarabag’s Champions League opener against Benfica, Portuguese journalists showed little interest in head coach Gurban Gurbanov, directing nearly all their questions to midfielder Kady.

Gurbanov, speaking at Estádio da Luz, said it was a pleasure to play in such a stadium and expressed hope that his team would deliver one of their best performances. “We haven’t played in the Champions League group stage for many years. The players dreamed of this moment,” he said.

But attention was largely on Kady, who previously played for two Portuguese clubs. “We didn’t have much time to prepare, but we are ready. Playing in the group stage was our dream. We twice lost in the play-offs, but this time we succeeded. Tomorrow we hope to show one of our best games,” he said.

Kady praised the consistency of Qarabag’s style under Gurbanov, who has led the team for 17 years, and said Benfica would be a tough opponent, but one they had studied carefully.