Acting Head Coach of FC Astana Paul Ashworth commented on the upcoming match of the 2^nd Qualifying Round of the Europa League against Buducnost, a correspondent of KazFootball.kz reports:

- We understand that this is a very important match. FC Astana has been successfully playing in European Competitions for the last five years, and we want to play in the Group Stage this season too. Everyone is ready for tomorrow’s match. As the Head Coach, I can only talk about the next match. Tomorrow we have to play against a good team, the champion of its country. FC Buducnost is a serious team that we are seriously preparing for.

- This is a rather atypical situation when a director goes to a coaching position. How do you yourself perceive it, how hard is it for you, how do the guys perceive it?

- This is not the first such case in my career. At FC Rostov, I was also a Sports Director, and then acted as Head Coach for several matches. I have experience in this situation. In general, I have worked as a head coach more often than as a Sports or Executive Director. I am comfortable and comfortable in this position. I believe in the team, I believe in every player. We have a good squad, and I believe that the guys will show themselves well in tomorrow’s match.

- Rukavina and Tomasevic haven’t played for about a month. How much will they be lacked tomorrow?

- Rukavina will miss another 5-6 weeks. We have a good roster, tomorrow there will be 18 players in the match sheet. I don’t think that the two missing players will have any effect on the result. Seven injured players is a lot, but two eliminated players will be replaced by players who will play no worse than them.

- In European Competitions, the home field factor is of great importance. You have never played at the Central Stadium this year. How much will this affect the team’s performance?

- There is a big difference. When we play in Astana Arena with our fans, this is our great advantage. But playing in Kazakhstan, in the city of Almaty, is the best option available at the moment. We have been living in this city for two months. It would be better to play in Astana Arena, but the fact that the opponent should fly here is also a big advantage for us.

- You left Tomasov on the bench in the match against Ordabasy. Is he ready for the upcoming match?

- Apart from Tomasevic and Rukavina, everyone is ready to play. Tomasov completely played almost all the past matches. We have a lot of good level players. The one who shows himself best in training sessions will play in the first eleven.

- On the UEFA website, you are declared as Head Coach, but there was also talk that the club is looking for candidates for this post. How is the search progressing now? Will you come back to this question in case of a possible defeat of FC Astana in tomorrow’s match?

- I already said that I think only about each next match. I do not think about this. All thoughts are only about tomorrow’s match. Now I am the Head Coach, and everything depends on the results of the team. But I will not worry about this situation, however I will do my job every minute, every day. The management provided me with this job, and today I continue to fulfill my duties.

- Do you have ambitions to continue working as the Head Coach of the team or do you want to return to your previous post in the future?

- That’s a good question. I really love working as a Head Coach. We have a good team, good conditions. So far I do not think about my future, the situation there is difficult.

- How well did you observed the opponent? What is this team like?

- The first question about the game (laughs). We’ve reviewed the previous five matches. FC Buducnost is a very interesting team. They play like English teams. Not talking about the level of the Premier League, but as a team that I am very familiar with. They play well on the wings, they put pressure. We have to be prepared for their long balls and crosses. They play like typical English teams.