Ali Aliyev: ''Everyone who gets a call-up to the national team must take the field and fight for the country''

- Finally, the moment has come when the national team has gathered together. It is a very pleasant period when the whole country unites. The guys are ready and waiting for the match. Belarus, like North Macedonia, plays with three central defenders, so we will play with a very good sparring partner. Some players in n their squad are well known to us from the performance in the Kazakhstan Premier League. In principle, the team is ready, today we fly to Minsk. There are big personnel losses, also for family reasons Roman Asrankulov sent home - his family had a grief. Alibek Kasym got injured. Nevertheless, this is life - it is necessary to move forward and get out of the situation. In general everyone is ready. There are no players in bad physical shape.

- Because of injures over the past few days we have lost several players, including Aibar Zhaksylykov. Have you thought about calling up some other players, such as  Ramazan Karimov and Oralkhan Omirtayev, who recently have shown themselves well.

- Aibar came with pneumonia, so he had to leave the national team. After we called Ramazan Karimov, but the results of medical examination revealed a back injury. As for Omirtaev, I said earlier that we were watching him. We would like to call him up, but today we need players for our format. We have Maxim Samorodov, Aliyar Muhammad and Dastan Satpayev - players who will change the attacking format, and we will act based on players we have.

- Ramazan Orazov did not get a call up. Is it connected with the lack of playing time in his club?

- Once again I repeat: I spoke to all the players who were not included in the final list. I explained the reason to each of them, including Ramazan Orazov. 
He understands that he was not included in the final list because of the lack of game practice. He perceived everything and recognised that we had made the right decision. Nevertheless, we need such players as Ramazan, with great experience and such intensity he plays with.

- Why did you decide to send Dastan Satpayev to the U-21 team?

- A young player needs to compete more and get international experience. You can train as much as you want and still get injured. As for his transfer to the U-21 team, we consulted with the technical director and the director of the national teams. The result of the U-21 team, as well as the national team, is a priority. We have a strategy, in which the first place is the result, and then - the development of players, team and coaching staff. Dastan Satpayev will play a match at ''Astana Arena'' before the game with Northern Macedonia, where he will feel the atmosphere. We hope that he will score for the team, and then join us after the game with Belarus. Yes, injuries are a risk, but without this risk we will not be able to give the player the tactical and psychological load, which is acquired only in a competitive environment.

- How important is the away game with Belarus? In your opinion, won't the players get tired?

- We would have liked to play a home match, without the time difference and complicated logistics. However, unfortunately, these are the conditions set by UEFA. We will test ourselves, we will test the players. The national team must develop in all aspects. There is no escaping it - the geographical position of the country is such that we have to cope with it. It will not be easy for them either. Macedonia, for example, play the Belgians and then come to us. I think that we are ready for everything, and, God willing, there will be no injuries.

- What are the tasks for the national team in this qualification?

- As for the state of the team and its goals - we explained everything at the very beginning. First of all, the goal is one - to fight for our country. This is not a club, not a private football entity. This is the national team. Everyone who gets a call-up must take the field and fight for the country. The second goal is to score maximum points. We have the dream of the whole country - to get to a major tournament. We realize how strong our group is, especially after the game with Wales. The first game, against Macedonia, is our first goal. It will show how ready we are.

- You just said about Orazov that he has no game practice. But at the same time there is Bystrov in the national team, who also has no practice. How would you comment on this?

- Thank you for watching the squad so carefully. Orazov and Bystrov were called up for the first training camp. Then Bystrov had no game practice, but he played his best in the matches against Wales and Liechtenstein. He gave an effective pass, he moved well. We have also analysed Ramazan - both in numbers and in game actions.

- Would you recommend Bystrov to move to a team where he will play more?

- This is a recommendation not only to Bystrov, but to all players. Even if a player comes on for 10 minutes - he keeps his game tone. You need to come to the national team in the best condition. There are exceptions, as in the case of Bystrov - he has experience, he played in RPL, worked with strong coaches. But in general, everyone has to win a place in the club. It's a competition, and the decision is up to the player.