Today, Soso Chedia, head coach of Georgian U-21 team, stated at the press conference at “Bomond Garden” hotel that 7 football players would not be able to play against Switzerland.
Soso Chedia: “The situation is difficult in the team. Unfortunately, we have many injured players. We talked to the boys when we gathered and we will have another serious conversation about what happened against Spain. We do not want the same to happen. Switzerland has a serious team. They arrived in Tbilisi yesterday. They want to take three points. Though, we are going to do our best because we have chance to win and to take the second place in the group”.
- Which players will not be able to play and which players will replace them?
- Zarkua, Kakubava, Jigauri and Okriashvili will not play. Levan Mchedlidze has two yellow cards and he will not be able to play. Kvekveskiri has injury. Tarkhnishvili has head injury. Their chances are 50/50 – it is up to doctors. Sikharulia, Lemonjava, Gvalia and goalkeeper Sherozia will play instead of them.
- What can you say about the opponent?
- It is a very strong team. They were finalists of the last European Championship and they lost to Spain. Switzerland is preparing seriously.
- How can this team be defeated? Will you play as No.1?
- Perhaps, as No.2, considering our situation. If we play open football we might gain the same result as against Spain.
- Former head coach Otar Gabelia was dissatisfied with the players’ physical preparation. Are you satisfied with it?
- When you gather for three days everything is depended on what form they come. The boys do 100 per cent of their possibilities. They must forget what happened against Spain.
- Is the youth team going to play with the same style as the national one?
- We are here because the youth and the national teams must play with the same style. We have such players who can play on defense as well as on offence.
Giorgi Makaridze, goalkeeper of Georgian youth team and French “Le Mans”, stated at the press conference that he forgot the loss to Spain and was preparing for the match against Switzerland.
Giorgi Makaridze: “We have to hold an important match against Switzerland. We want to get through the next round. If we do not win over Switzerland we will hardly take the second place. The team is in a good mood. For example, I have already forgotten the match against Spain”.
- Perhaps, you think about returning to the national team…
- Revishvili, Loria and Kvaskhvadze are playing well. The most important is to play for the club. If I play there, perhaps, I will be called up for the national team too.
The match between Georgian and Swiss youth teams will be held at Mikheil Meskhi stadium on October 7. The match will start at 21:00. Bulgarian Aleksandr Kostadinov will judge the match. Soso Chedia replaced Otar Gabelia on the position of head coach and he has a debut match.
Tickets price will be 5 GEL. It is worth mentioning that “Pirveli Arkhi” will not broadcast the match. As “World Sport” found out all national TV channels will be busy with broadcasting the visit of president of France Nicolas Sarkozy.
Lasha Tabagari
