The duel with the team Buducnost from Montenegro within the 2^nd Qualifying Round of the Europa League will become another very important exam for the Kazakhstan Champion of the six previous seasons – FC Astana, from a series of those that it has to pass over and over again this year. The strongest team in the country will have to prove to domestic fans and competitors, and, first of all, probably to itself, that the bad streak has finally over, and FC Astana is ready again to take the reins of domestic club football into their own hands.

One of those players of the capital team that are most noticeable in its squad after the second restart of the football season in Kazakhstan is the player of the National Team of Romania Dorin Rotariu. A correspondent of the Republican Internet portal Sports.kz decided to talk with him about what has been happening recently in the squad from Nur-Sultan, and what achievements fans of FC Astana have the right to expect from it this season.

- Dorin, over the past month FC Astana has experienced a lot of not very pleasant moments. What is the current mood among the players of the team?

- I can say that the confidence of our team is growing, we are becoming more and more like a family.

- Your team won on Saturday a difficult, but very important victory in the match against FC Ordabasy. Do you think this is a sign that things are going better for FC Astana?

- This is a clear sign that we are on the right track.

- Kairat, meanwhile, continues to lead the Premier League. Will you have time to catch up?

- The most important thing is the next match. How everything will turn out in the end, we will see at the very end.

- The European Competitions match against the Montenegrin team Buducnost will take place very soon. Can Astana be called the favourite of this match?

- In my opinion, we are favourites. But I’m not going to underestimate anyone.

- In your opinion, does the match against the Montenegrins in Kazakhstan give FC Astana a big advantage?

- Even if we play in Kazakhstan, but not in Astana Arena.

- Do you know something about such an opponent as FC Buducnost?

- I watched their last matches and I know the results.

- What do you think did the players of your team manage to gain the necessary conditions in the month that has passed since the second restart?

- First of all, we do our best in training sessions to be ready for the upcoming matches.

- What can you say about a coach like Paul Ashworth?

- He knows the team and the players very well. The team works well under the management of this coach. He gives us motivation and confidence.

- How do you think, will FC Astana be able to solve the main tasks for the current season – to become the Kazakhstan Champion and qualify to the Group Stage of the Europa League?

- This is our plan. And we will do everything to make it happen.

The General Partner of FC Astana is JSC Samruk-Kazyna