"The road to the UEFA Champions League did not go through heavy spending, but through analytics."

Operativ Media reports that this was stated by Sabah President Magsud Adigozalov in an interview with Euronews.

Speaking about qualifying for the main stage of the continent's premier club tournament, the official emphasized that their financial resources are limited compared to established European clubs:

"Financially, we could not compete with many established European clubs. Therefore, we had to find our own competitive advantages.

We were inspired by the 'Moneyball' philosophy. This philosophy showed that the smart use of data and player recruitment can help a club compete at a level much higher than its financial capacity would suggest.

But for us, the human factor always comes first. Players are human beings before they are assets or statistics. We try to provide players with excellent training and living conditions, and to treat them and their families with respect."

The total market value of Sabah's entire squad is estimated at approximately €16.65 million. This figure is a far cry from Barcelona's €1.1 billion and Manchester United's €900 million.

Nevertheless, Adigozalov stated that they do not shy away from big goals at the club and, above all, believe in hard work:

"A young boy or girl sitting in the stadium and watching Barcelona or Borussia Dortmund play against Sabah can start to have different dreams about football. If this achievement leads to more children taking up football, more families heading to stadiums, and increased faith in Azerbaijani football, then its impact will be far greater than Sabah itself."