After the press conference, which took place at “Dinamo Arena”, Temur Ketsbaia said that after becoming a head coach of the national team his coaching staff did a fantastic job.
Temur Ketsbaia: “I want to congratulate you the start of a new qualifying. On September 7, we play against Ireland at home. It’s good that most of the players have already arrived. Those, who have a game today, tomorrow will be with us at the training. We start preparations for this serious match. We had those players at the meeting, who play for the Georgian Championship. The good thing has done. We saw a very good attitude to the case on the field and beyond. I hope, they will continue in this way”.
Could you tell us, what is going on around Nukri Revishvili?
-I deserve more, because I tried to help a person and everything drove into different direction. I think that incident with Revishvili was premeditated. I had a meeting with the leadership of that team 3 months ago. They asked not to call up Revishvili, as it might create problems for them. I agreed, because in my opinion, Revishvili is not the number one goalkeeper in Georgia. By the way, there was another Georgian player, who told me that if we call him up for the team, he would definitely arrive. 3 weeks before the match against Spain, Revishvili was in Georgia, but we could not find him. He did not answer the phone. He brought a passport on Tuesday, and on Thursday we had a flight. When you go to a country like Spain, there is no consulate, which will give you a visa. However, Revishvili had 2-year visa. He called me before leaving Tbilisi and I told him not to call on this number, because we were preparing. If we wish, Revishvili will be unable to play for his team. He had to come. I called him up for the second time. Because of this situation, I am saying that it was premeditated to break the stick on me. When he does not come, someone has to answer for his actions and the easiest way out is to blame Ketsbaia. So, what happened if a man loves hunting, I love fishing and hunting. We want people like Saba Kvirkvelia, who could play for another team abroad, but he refused. We do not want such people, who cannot be used. In case of arriving, we would not let him play anyway, because he is not a number one goalkeeper. I did not say that I do not consider him as a player, I told that I do not consider him as a number one goalkeeper. Due to the fact, that he played against Croatia several years ago, it does not mean to play in every match. We call up 25 players for the meeting and those who did not want to come, what can we do.
-During these years, what does you work brought to the Georgian team?
-When I come to the press conference, I want to talk friendly. You ask such questions, it seems to me that you are here for gossip. I inherited devastated Georgian team, which was in the 150th place in FIFA ranking and had only 3 points in qualifying. In the first qualifying we took the 5th place and the the 4th. Before, we had won over Bulgaria and draw with Italy. We overcame Croatia and played draw with France. The team became efficient. This is not my merit, this is a merit of boys. Now, our goal grows, but this does not mean that we have guaranteed the 3rd place in the group. You saw how shamefully played our teams at Euro Cups. You will see my work, when I leave.
-From your point of view, who can take charge for the team’s leader?
-We are those people, who 2 years ago decided to give a chance to young players. It was not an easy decision. However, football needed these people. If you do not plan anything, nothing will change. Now, we are asked to make that was not done during 20 years. We have players, who have an opportunity to show themselves. In summer, 6-7 players of the team stayed without team. Thanks to our contacts, we managed to settle them in the teams. Popkhadze, who is without team and runs on the hippodrome, was the best at gathering. I do not know better left defenders in Georgia as Popkhadze, Grigalava and Dato Kvirkvelia are. In such situation, we play against teams, which have 30-30 players from the English Premier League. As for the leadership, this function can perform Ananidze, Okriashvili and Kankava.
-What can you say about Ireland? You called up 2 forwards, is this your decision or you acted adequately to this situation?
-2 forwards are quite enough. On that day, I watched Mchedlidze, he played well and it’s good that he comes prepared. Spain became the World champion without a forward and in 200-million Brazil a forward could not be found.
- Why you have not called up Mate Vatsadze, Giorgi Chanturia and Shota Grigalashvili?
-We have 2 forwards and this is enough. We play with one forward and calling 5 is not necessary. We cannot call up 10 forwards, 10 midfielders and 3 defenders. Can you tell me where Chanturia plays? Vatsadze plays in the second League of Denmark and Mchedlidze in serie A and how could I not call serie A’s player? Football does not end with this game and others will have a chance too.
- How have you studied the Ireland’s team?
-I repeat once again, that this match will be very hard. Last year we hold a friendly match against Ireland. Our player was dismissed at the 10th minute and we lost 0:4. We play football better than they do. We have to do our best.
-Shall we expect any news from the Georgian team?
-A person always expects better. I plan to go out the group. Why do you laugh? We are moving towards the goal step by step.
After the press conference, Ketsbaia trained the national team at “Dinamo Arena”.
Lasha Tabagari
