Sabah FC head coach Valdas Dambrauskas has spoken about the Champions League.

Operativ Media reports that the head coach shared his thoughts with Euronews about this achievement, his entry into coaching, and the upcoming matches.

Dambrauskas has become the first Baltic head coach to qualify for the main stage of the Champions League. By leading Sabah—a club that did not exist nine years ago—to the main stage of the tournament, he has earned the opportunity to face clubs like Arsenal, Manchester United, and Barcelona.

In 2002, the specialist won a cash prize on the Lithuanian television show "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?". He used those funds to move to England and cover the costs of UEFA coaching courses.

Dambrauskas had no prior professional football experience. To pay for his coaching courses, he worked as a babysitter, a shop assistant, and a newspaper delivery boy. He later worked in the football academies of Fulham, Brentford, and Manchester United. Sabah is the 10th club of his coaching career.

"Sometimes it was difficult. I had to work hard and believe, despite the doubts of both myself and the people around me," Dambrauskas said.

The Lithuanian specialist said he considers the result achieved with Sabah to be an important milestone in his career, but that he has new goals ahead.

Sabah defeated Hapoel Beer Sheva 5-2 last Tuesday. The Baku representative won 6-4 on aggregate to advance to the main stage of the Champions League.

This result has given Sabah the opportunity to play eight matches against Europe's leading clubs. Barcelona, Borussia Dortmund, Napoli, and Slavia Prague will visit Baku.

Dambrauskas and his team will face Arsenal and Manchester United in England, Villarreal in Spain, and Viking in Norway.

Along with their performance in the Champions League, the head coach also emphasized the importance of competing in the Azerbaijani championship.

"Everyone is talking about the Champions League. But it is our performance in the Azerbaijani championship that gives us the opportunity to play here. It is very important that we maintain our focus and prepare for every match we face," he noted.

Dambrauskas stated that an international environment has been formed at Sabah, featuring players of various nationalities. According to him, the team's starting lineup often includes representatives of 11 different nationalities.

The specialist noted that in such an environment, the principle of "respect" forms the basis of the team's philosophy.