All You Need To Know About Qarabag

BakuPatrick, our man in the East, gives us the lowdown on Qarabag, our next European opponents….

Qarabag have an identity within Azerbaijan culture which transcends football culture and makes them every supporters second team. Displaced to Baku following the invasion and destruction of their homeland Nagorno Karabakh, which resulted in 30,000 deaths, (mainly men and boys) The Horsemen as they are called have a fiercely loyal support but are also seen as a symbol of resistance against unjust occupation by Armenia.

They had a fairly mundane life in the league until the appointment of former professional player Gurban Gurbanov in 2008 who radically changed the make up of the playing staff. He insisted that the back bone of the team squad would be predominantly made up of home grown Azeri nationals balanced with a sprinkling of foreign players who would add value to the naturally robust talents of the locals

He set a pattern of play that would be strictly adhered to of 4-2-3-1 and set about changing the style of play to fast moving on the ground moving up and down the pitch as a unit attractive football. Ronnie, sorry Gurbanov and Qarabag won the league for the first time in 21 years in 2014.

I watched them in Europe in 2014 and saw them beat Red Bull Sazsburg, Dnipro (eventual finalists) and be cruelly robbed against Inter Milan when a 94^th minute winner was disallowed. Replay showed that it was a perfectly good goal. Qarabag fans were convinced of the conspiracy that no one wanted a small provincial club from one of the smallest leagues in Europe to defeat the Princes of the game. The parallels are uncanny.

The season starts here on 8^th August so fitness levels are similar to Celtic

The current squad consists of 4 Brazilians, Spaniard, Dutchman, Moroccan, Bosnian and the rest Azeris. The main thrust of attack tends to be down the left side of play to Brazilian mid-fielder Richard and then looking for another Brazilian centre forward Reynaldo in and around the box.

Gara Garayev  and Joshgun Diniev are two Azeri defensive midfielders and can put it about when required to break up play.

Defensively they are very strong and are not frightened to put a foot in when necessary although they can be a theatrical in response to challenge. Bosnian Goalkeeper Sehic is a fine shot stopper but has the odd wobble moment which can install panic at the back. He is particularly susceptible to upset against a robust forward at crosses.

The back four also like time on the ball and again can be upset by being closed down quickly. The whole team can be prone to switching off for 5 or 10 minutes and then finishing the game strongly.

So much for Qarabag, the similarities of a rich history, being a peoples club supported by a displaced diaspora, a young ambitious manager playing an attractive style of play, filled with predominantly local players. What’s not to like. The local fans are excited by the draw as they feel they are facing one of the most famous clubs in the world and that they are in with a great chance of progress. Make no mistake they feel they can beat us over two legs. They normally play a similar style home or away and they are confident they will get a goal at Parkhead.

We will need to be at the top of our game and take our chances as they come. Brown and Bitton will be crucial in imposing themselves in midfield and we must be wary of their speed in breaking. My only concern would be the left back position and I would choose Izaguirre over Mulgrew. But then I don’t pick the team.

Baku is the heart of the oil and gas industry in the Caspian with its very own local Celtic Club who cannot believe our luck at getting to see our beloved club in competitive action. Hopefully after the first leg it will be an exhibition game.