Kairat head coach Rafael Urazbakhtin and defender Egor Sorokin spoke at a press conference on Monday ahead of their Champions League match with Real Madrid, outlining tactics and emphasizing mental strength in preparation for the historic encounter.
Real Madrid’s debut in Kazakhstan
Playing in Kazakhstan for the first time, the Spanish giants have brought a full-strength squad led by star forward Kylian Mbappé. Real Madrid, seeking redemption after its 5-2 defeat to Atlético Madrid in La Liga on Sept. 27, is determined to make a statement.
«Certainly, they’ll give their all here,» Urazbakhtin said. «[…] Even a strong club like Real Madrid has some shortcomings. Every team has weaknesses — our task is to exploit them. You’ll see tomorrow.»
Kairat’s mindset and tactics
Attitude, Urazbakhtin stressed, is as vital as execution.
«We won’t go out there doomed,» he said. «We’ll impose our game. We must come out bold and fight. […] The most important thing is to play until the final whistle. We’ll learn from our previous defeat and try to perform at a high level throughout the game.»
Sorokin emphasized discipline as a key for Kairat.
«Discipline beats talent. We’ll do everything possible to achieve a result. Can I stop Mbappé? We’ll do everything possible to make him uncomfortable,» Sorokin said.
The match Real Madrid’s squad landed in Almaty on Sept. 28. The match against Kairat is scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 30, at Central Stadium.
