Ahead of the second leg of the UEFA Conference League second qualifying round, Pyunik head coach Yeghishe Melikyan and midfielder Matas Vareika answered questions from the media.

Matas Vareika

– What are your expectations for tomorrow’s match, and how do you view Győr as an opponent?

- I expect a very tough match against a strong opponent. Győr is a quality team, and tomorrow they’ll come out with a lot of energy in front of their fans. Our job is to match that energy and level the game. We didn’t come here to play for a draw — we’re here to win.

– The team has already passed the first round. What’s the mood and motivation like ahead of this next stage?

- The mood is really good in the team. I think we were a bit lucky with our first-round opponent, so I believe our real European journey starts now.

– You’ve been at Pyunik, Armenia’s most titled club, some time now. The spring was tough, but this summer you’ve already won twice in Europe. Have you come to understand the values and spirit of the club? What do you think about the team’s ideology and goals?

- I’ve known Pyunik since the time we played against them when I was at Žalgiris. I know this is the biggest club in Armenia, and there’s always pressure to win. We want to win every game. I really like that mentality — that’s why I chose this club in the winter.

Yeghishe Melikyan

– How do you assess the upcoming match and your team’s readiness?

- We barely won at home.Tomorrow will be even more difficult — Győr will play more aggressively in front of their fans. But we’ve prepared the team both tactically and mentally. I don’t think we’ll face problems we can’t solve, but the game will be very tough. We know if we come here just for a draw, we’ll lose. That’s why we came here to score and win. That’s our goal.

– How will Yusuf Otubanjo’s absence affect the team?

- Yes, it was an unexpected loss. But this is football. His contract ends on August 1st, and he received a good offer. Considering what he has done for the club, we couldn’t stand in his way. He was no longer with us mentally, and in such a situation, it wouldn’t have been right to bring him to the game and expect him to fight. Experience shows that if a player is not fully with the team emotionally, he won’t be able to give everything. Like it or not, this is football — and no one is to blame.