Giorgi Popkhadze, left defender of “Sturm” Graz, is leaving the club at the end of the season. Giorgi has 1+2 contract with the city club of Arnold Schwarzenegger which is current champion. Though the team is not holding this season like the previous one and is in the middle of the schedule.

Popkhadze talked about those reasons in an interview with “World Sport” which makes him leave “Sturm”. Besides that, we asked 25-year-old defender about Georgian national team:

-         You did not play in the previous round of Austrian Championship. What is the reason of it?

-         My foot hurt and I started training with the team yesterday. On Sunday, we will play against “Rapid” in Vienna and perhaps, I will play. I do not know exactly.

-         Franco Foda is not head coach of “Sturm” anymore. Did he go himself or was he dismissed?

-         He went himself. No one would dismiss Foda. He has a great authority. There is not such situation in the club which was when I came there. I have decided that I will leave “Sturm” in summer.

-         So, you will not extend contract?

-         No. If Foda had stayed in the club, I would have stayed. There is a big chance that we will not play at European tournaments. Managers are going to make accent on young players and they do everything to reduce budget. They are going to dismiss experienced players. But these experienced players brought championship to “Sturm”. It will not bring good result to the team: the same happened in “Viborg” when the team was in Supreme League of Denmark but policy of the team and dismissal of experienced football players moved “Viborg” to lower league and they are still there. I prefer to play for other team without money than to sign 2-year contract here.

-         It is clear. You liked “Sturm” very much. You always have playing practice.

-         I am happy that I worked with Foda but the situation has changed and I prefer to leave it. Former assistant of Foda is acting coach of the team. I do not know who will become head coach but whoever comes he will make accent on young players. It is the team’s policy. New sports director stated something in one of the interviews that it is not worth staying here anymore.

-         What did he state?

-         Why legionary must play when we have 21-year-old Austrian on his position. I met the director and told him about my offence because of these words.

-         Has a presumable future club showed up?

-         I will know it in one-two weeks. When newspapers write about my decision, work will be started. Here I held 34 matches in 9 months. It is not few and it must not be a problem to transfer to another club. I prefer to have playing practice and to be paid less than vice versa. I want to play. 

-         What can you say about specificity of Austrian Championship?

-         There is not a big difference between Danish and Austrian Championships. Here is more tense. There is a bad refereeing in Austria.

-         Does “Sturm” have enemies?

-         Yes. Everybody knows it in Austria. It is often written in newspapers. Referee who judged “Zestafoni”-“Brugge” at Europa League is in “fashion” – he made “Zestafoni” angry and I remember he made many mistakes against us.

-         Which clubs are helped?

-         “Rapid” and “Austria”.

-         Austrian U-19 team is one of the opponents of Georgia in elite round of European Championship which will be held at the end of May. Do you know Austrian U-19 team players?

-         Yes, I do. Two of them are in “Sturm” and train with the main team. Though, they do not play often. They are not bad boys though I have watched playing of Georgian U-19 team and I think we have better players.

-         As we know, Temur Ketsbaia was to attend your match. Have you seen each other?

-         As I know, Ketsbaia attended the match against “Austria” but I have not seen him. After the end of the match the team went to airport. I do not know if he will call me up. I hope so.

Ilia Nanobashvili