Give Jaloliddinov time to adapt, says Abramov

Speaking during the ongoing national team training camp in Tashkent, the richly experienced boss – who has also overseen the midfielder’s rise at club side FC Bunyodkor – said Jaloliddinov has the potential to reach the highest level, but he must be given time to adapt.

“Of course (he has the potential). Everything will depend on him now,” Abramov, who led Uzbekistan to the 2011 AFC Asian Cup semi-finals, told the-AFC.com.

“We have contributed to the whole task. Our contribution to his development gave him the opportunity to grow, and he has a certain talent, (but) there are a lot of talented players. Everything will depend on him and on his attitude to further training.

“Naturally, I think that he will probably not immediately play for Lokomotiv. it takes time to adapt, but everything will depend on how the Lokomotiv coach will react to him - as far as he sees him in his team, and I understand such a team as Lokomotiv has a serious level.

“Now he needs to improve physically - in Russia this is not a minor factor. I think his relative lack of physical condition will allow his mental and technical capabilities to prove himself and, if used correctly, he will not look bad.”

With Jaloliddinov’s move already completed, and several top European clubs reportedly interested in 19-year-old FC Ufa midfielder Oston Urunov, Uzbekistan’s youngsters have been the talk of the summer in the country’s sporting press.

There is excitement about the potential of this new generation of players – with hopes that they can follow in the successful Russian Premier League footsteps of star striker Eldor Shomurodov – but Abramov, who celebrated his 58th birthday on Wednesday, insists each move must be assessed on its own merits.

Eldor SHOMURODOV

“Everything is individual, you understand,” he said. “You have to judge everything separately. there is no such thing that everything was great, or everything was bad.

“There are certain pluses and certainly minuses, if he plays, there will be game practice and he will certainly grow, and if he just sits on the bench, it will certainly not be beneficial, naturally, for any footballer. Therefore, if they play for the main team, like Shomurodov, then this is progress and benefits for Uzbek football and, in general, for the national team in particular.

“Therefore, everything will depend on the individual situation, and then we do not play so many abroad, and if later, if there are a lot of them (playing overseas), and they will be invited to the national team, this will be determined as a minus due to them having to relocate. This will also have an impact (on the national team).

“For now, we welcome the fact that they are playing abroad.”

While the development of his young stars is a long-term concern, Abramov’s more pressing priority is to prepare Uzbekistan for their imminent return to international football.

The White Wolves will face Tajikistan and Islamic Republic of Iran in Tashkent friendlies next month, before resuming their Asian Qualifiers campaign with key matches in October and November.

The current training squad is comprised solely of locally-based players, but Abramov will have access to his full suite of foreign-based stars when the matches roll around; something which may prove useful given the multiple interruptions experienced in the Uzbek domestic game this season.

“It is difficult to say now,” explained Abramov. “Our championship was interrupted again, but we hope that starting on the 18th it will resume again, but taking into account the fact that there were such pauses and we have these games, which will be in October and November, we will look in what condition and where the players of the national team are going.”

“We will be playing with a two-day rest, and of course it will definitely affect us. We will think about how to use our players correctly. Where to give the opportunity to relax, where the opposite. We will proceed from what we have. Of course, we will do our best to achieve good results.”

Vadim Abramov - PRELIMINARY JOINT QUALIFICATION 2022 - UZBEKISTAN vs YEMEN

Abramov also commented on the prospects of 30-year-old Russian-born defender Igor Golban (pictured below), who is training with the national squad for the first time after spending five years playing for Uzbek clubs.

The 193-centimetre tall Navbahor defender is a former Russian U-21 international, but he may soon be lining up in the heart of defence for his adopted home.

Igor Golban - FC Nasaf

“Everything will depend on him and how he will show himself,” declared Abramov.

“He is now at the first training camp and we are looking at him, not that we are looking closely, it is most likely that he must adapt to the requirements of the national team of Uzbekistan.

“For him to join this team I think that it will be no problem, but in terms of play - how much the feeling of being in the national team will allow him to feel the way he feels in the club - It will depend on this, and then on our ability to show his best qualities on the field.

“We must do everything so that he can prove himself.”

Following next month’s friendlies, Abramov’s side will face Yemen on October 13, before meeting Singapore and Saudi Arabia in their final Asian Qualifiers Group D matches in November.

Uzbekistan sit one point ahead of Saudi Arabia in the group, although the Green Falcons hold a game in hand, and remain in pole position to top the section after winning 3-2 in Tashkent in November 2019.

Photo: Uzbekistan Football Association, AFC, AFP

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