Following the goalless draw between Azerbaijan and Liechtenstein, experienced journalist Ernst Hasler, head of the website "Der Stammtisch", spoke to Offsideplus.az.

– What are your impressions of the match?

– I am glad for my team, as we had suffered five consecutive defeats in our last five matches, and now we have earned this point against a strong opponent. This was the best performance we have shown in the last six matches. I think it is a fantastic result for the team. Our players showed great courage and determination, and they fought compactly in defence. Therefore, this result was not a surprise for me. Of course, there were moments of luck for us, as Azerbaijan had 2-3 big goal opportunities but could not convert them. That’s football. I believe that in the second half, Liechtenstein was closer to winning. That would have been a big surprise.

– Did you have any prior knowledge about Azerbaijani football?

– Of course, as this is not my first visit here. I was here in 1998 as well. We defeated Azerbaijan 2-1 in Liechtenstein, but we lost 0-4 here. So, I have some knowledge about Azerbaijani football. I also know teams like Qarabag that play in the Champions League. I think there is good development in Azerbaijani football. I have been here when the German head coach (Berti Vogts - ed.) was managing the national team, and we had a match then too. He was very aggressive towards journalists because some journalists were not satisfied with Azerbaijan's performance. That German coach told them, "You were not at the match, how can you discuss this topic with me?

– So, you follow "Sabah" and "Qarabag" in European competitions...

– Yes, of course. The Champions League and European tournaments are followed all over Europe. Being in Central Europe, we can watch all these matches, and we know a lot about them.

– You mentioned that you have been to Baku several times. Do you like the city and Azerbaijan?

– Yes, but this time I came for a very short period. I arrived last night, and I am returning at 2:00 AM tonight. So, I didn’t have much time to enjoy this time. However, the country has really changed remarkably. When I compare the situation now with when I came here in 1998, I see that what has happened in terms of culture, economy, and sports is truly remarkable.