Yeghishe Melikyan: There are many losses, we are facing difficulties

Head coach of the Armenian national football team Yeghishe Melikyan spoke about the team's condition and the upcoming match against Cyprus during the pre-match press conference held on the eve of the third round of the Nations League.

"We have many absences, exactly ten players who are important to the national team. Despite these losses, we are able to field a competitive squad, we aren't complaining or despairing, though we recognize the difficulties we face. Yet, we manage to overcome many challenges and move forward.

No matter how well-prepared the team was, we suffered a painful defeat, but we will succeed in getting the team into fighting shape.

From a psychological standpoint, I witnessed the fans' sadness; we felt it ten times more intensely ourselves, but we know we are professionals and must keep working after such a psychological blow. We will do everything to put that behind us and secure a victory.

We have analyzed the Cyprus national team; they have talented individual players, including good wingers and a striker. Their coach is doing a good job and the team has a distinct style of play—they are not an easy opponent. We are aware of their strengths and weaknesses.

Cancarevic and Shaghoyan are injured. They are not with the squad for this match, but we haven't given up on either of them," said Yeghishe Melikyan.

In the first round of the Nations League, the Armenian team defeated Latvia 2–0, while in the second round, they lost to Montenegro 2–3. The third-round match between Cyprus and Armenia will take place in Nicosia on October 2, kicking off at 20:00 Armenia time.