At the start of the press event, an Azerbaijani journalist asked Farioli what he knows about Qarabağ FK. "Since the coach took charge, they have won the league ten times and the cup six times. Those results speak for themselves. I know well how they play. I also know the coach a little. He was linked with a job in Turkey when I was working there."
Proof
Daniele Rugani also joined the press conference, offering praise for the opponent. "We've watched a lot of footage, and we know they are a strong and dangerous team. The trophies they've won are proof of that."
Rugani will start for the first time under his fellow Italian, Farioli, on Thursday evening. The Ajax coach highlighted where he believes the defender's strengths lie.
"We have a large squad, and Daniele is an important player within it. He brings a lot to the team; experience, leadership, and extensive knowledge of international matches. He joined us a bit later and had some physical issues, but I believe the time has come for him to start."
Farioli declined to make any predictions when asked, stating, "My job is not to predict matches but to prepare my team as well as possible. I aim to map out the strengths and weaknesses of the opponent and identify areas where we can still improve. Hopefully, we can take the next step in our development."
Positively surprised
Rugani hopes that Ajax, still unbeaten in the League Phase, can achieve a good result. He mentioned being pleasantly surprised by what he found during his first months in Amsterdam.
"I think we have a strong team, with a lot of quality, especially from a technical perspective. Of course, we must listen to the coach to become the best team we can be. We need to support each other during both the good and bad times, and that's when you discover the real strength and character of a team. I believe we can achieve great things."
