Ismailov promises aggressive play against DPRK

Uzbek youth team head coach Islam Ismailov shared his thoughts at a press conference ahead of the AFC U-23 Asian Cup semi-final match against the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), scheduled for April 17.

"Our opponent has played well up to this stage. DPRK is a physically strong and well-prepared team. When we analyzed their matches in the tournament, we saw that they maintained constant pressure for the full 90 minutes. While there were a few tactical errors, it's clear that facing them won't be easy. We will try to capitalize on our opportunities and aim for victory," Ismailov said.

He also spoke about the performance of the Uzbek youth team and the players’ motivation throughout the tournament.

"Our results are not only due to motivation but also the hard work of the coaching staff and medical team. Taif is located at an altitude of nearly 1,900 meters above sea level, which makes playing football here challenging. Proper preparation is essential for our players to perform consistently at a high level. We conduct both tactical and psychological discussions with the team before and after every match. What we are achieving is the result of collective effort," the coach explained.

Ismailov further commented on the attacking style of both teams in the tournament.

"We’ll witness a match between two offensive-minded teams. We have our own strategy and path. Our goal is always to play attacking football. We aim to build our defense in the opponent’s third of the field, meaning our team will apply constant high pressure. We've been developing this approach for years and will not change our style against any opponent. Of course, depending on the flow of the match, we may make some adjustments to the players' movements on the field. But the core of our game plan remains unchanged. At the same time, we will work to neutralize the opponent's strong attacking line and prevent them from playing comfortably," said Ismailov.

For reference, the Uzbekistan–DPRK match is set to kick off on April 17 at 22:15 local time at King Fahd Stadium in Taif.