Photo by Aziz Karimov - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images
Photo by Aziz Karimov - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images
United In Focus caught up with AnewZ reporter Katie Wilson to discuss how Azerbaijani media views Sabah FK’s unprecedented path to the Champions League ahead of Thursday’s match at Old Trafford.
Manchester United face Azerbaijani opposition for the first time in the club’s history on Thursday night when Michael Carrick’s side hosts Sabah FK in the Champions League.
The Reds go into the game following a 2-2 draw with Everton at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, so they will be eager to get back to winning ways against a team they should be beating – on paper, at least.
To get some insight into United’s opposition, United In Focus asked Katie Wilson of AnewZ a range of questions.
Manchester United in the Champions League draw
Photo by Marcio Machado/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images
Katie Wilson provides insight into Sabah FK ahead of Man Utd trip
Azerbaijan Premier League champions will step out onto the Old Trafford turf on Thursday night. It will mark a meteoric rise.
Sabah qualified for the Champions League after battling through four qualification rounds.
For Katie Wilson, formerly of BBC News, covering Sabah’s ascent means she has had a front-row seat to a fantastic football story.
The AnewZ reporter provides insight into United’s upcoming opponents. Check out our conversation below.
As a reporter and presenter working for AnewsZ, how big of a story is it that Sabah will play Manchester United at Old Trafford in the Champions League on Thursday night?
Katie: “It’s a massive story here. There are billboards all over Baku celebrating Sabah’s Champions League qualification, and the fact they’ve drawn a Premier League club like Manchester United has only added to the hype.
“I think Sabah reaching this stage has come as a surprise to a lot of people, so there’s a real sense of excitement not just around the club, but around the teams that will be coming to Baku as well. Champions League football is still relatively rare in Azerbaijan, so these occasions feel incredibly special.
“One thing that’s quite different from the UK is that European football here becomes a national event. Fans of other clubs put their domestic rivalries aside and support whichever team is representing the country in Europe. So when Sabah walk out at Old Trafford, I think there’ll be a sense that they’re representing Azerbaijan as well as their own supporters.”
Sabah is one of the fastest-rising clubs in European football, after winning their first-ever Azerbaijan Premier League title in the 2025/26 season. How was this achieved by a club that exists for a mere 9-years?
Katie: “From the outside Sabah’s rise can look quite surprising, but when you look at the way the club has been built, it feels much less accidental. From the beginning, the ambition was to create a club capable of competing at a European level.
“Sabah is part of a wider sporting project here – there’s also a very successful Sabah basketball team – and there’s been significant investment in building the football club. Their recruitment has been very international, with players and scouting networks extending well beyond Azerbaijan, and they’ve been quite deliberate about bringing in the quality and experience needed to compete at a higher level.
“For a long time, Qarabağ have been the dominant force in Azerbaijani football and would normally be the team you’d expect to win the league. But their Champions League campaign last season brought an incredibly demanding schedule, and Sabah were able to capitalise domestically and put together the consistency needed to win their first title.”
This led to a successful Champions League qualifying campaign, which led to a congratulatory message from Azerbaijan’s president, Ilham Aliyev. Is this the biggest football story you’ve worked on since moving to Azerbaijan in 2025?
Katie: “It’s certainly up there. Champions League campaigns are always the biggest stories I get to cover here, and there’s a real sense of momentum around Azerbaijani football at the moment.
“Qarabağ had an incredible Champions League campaign last season, reaching the knockout play-offs, and Sabah qualifying this year has really built on that wave of enthusiasm.
“There’s also huge excitement about the teams coming to Baku this season – Barcelona in particular has generated a massive amount of hype. So I think this Sabah campaign has the potential to become the biggest football story I’ve covered here.
“A lot will depend on how they perform though. If Sabah can start picking up points and get themselves into a position where reaching the knockout stages looks like a possibility, then I think the excitement around the team will only grow.”
Are United jerseys popular in Azerbaijan?
Katie: “Absolutely. Manchester United are one of those clubs with a huge following here. If you ask Azerbaijanis which team they support, Manchester United is a name that comes up again and again.
“I think that’s particularly true among generations who grew up watching United during the Sir Alex Ferguson years, when the club was so dominant.
“That actually adds another interesting dimension to Thursday night. Sabah will have the country behind them as the Azerbaijani representative, but there’ll also be plenty of people here who have supported Manchester United for years. I think there may be a few divided loyalties when the two teams actually walk out at Old Trafford.”
What can you tell us about Sabah manager Valdas Dambrauskas?
Katie: “I think his journey is one of the really fascinating stories behind Sabah’s success. A lot of people have now heard the story of how he won money on ‘Who wants to be a Millionaire?’ and used it to help fund his coaching education in the UK. The fact that he also reached this level without a professional playing career makes his route into management even more interesting.
“But what I find particularly significant as a reporter here is that he’s a European manager, succeeding in a league that we’re used to seeing dominated by Qarabağ and Gurban Gurbanov. Gurbanov has been there for many years and is such an established figure in Azerbaijani football, whereas Dambrauskas brings experience from working across a number of different European countries.
“There’s also a real contrast between them on the touchline. Gurbanov tends to be very stoic, while Dambrauskas is incredibly animated – he’s constantly moving around, communicating and reacting to what’s happening on the pitch. It gives Sabah quite a different identity.
“And his story is attracting attention beyond Azerbaijan too. I’ve heard from Lithuanians, who are really excited to see a Lithuanian manager leading a team into the Champions League. So I think there’ll be plenty of interest in Dambrauskas from both Azerbaijan and Lithuania as this campaign develops.”
Manchester United will obviously be overwhelming favourites. What can Sabah do to cause them problems at Old Trafford?
Katie: “Yes, we all know who the favourites are and who the underdogs are, but I don’t think that will necessarily intimidate Sabah. They’ve gone into games as underdogs during the qualifying rounds as well, and one thing I’ve really noticed about this team is their resilience. They don’t give up.
“They’re not a side that will simply accept a game is over if they go a couple of goals behind. They’ll continue to take chances and look for opportunities to get themselves back into it. Where they can be particularly dangerous is if an opponent starts to feel comfortable. Sabah are very good at sensing those moments and capitalising on them.
“So I think that’s something Manchester United will have to be wary of. They can’t afford to lose focus if they do take control of the game.
“There’s also an element of the unknown that could work in Sabah’s favour. Particularly in these early Champions League games, opponents won’t necessarily know a huge amount about them or exactly what to expect. If Sabah are going to produce a surprise, this could be the moment to capitalise on that unpredictability.”
Which Sabah players are most likely to catch the eye of United fans?
Katie: “I’d definitely say keep an eye on Rwanda international Joy-Lance Mickels. He’s a forward who has been brilliant at producing important moments for Sabah, including some late goals. He has that ability to catch teams by surprise, and he’s become extremely popular with supporters here.
“I’d also pay attention to Akim Zedadka. He’s an Algeria international defender, and what really stands out when you watch him is just how involved he is – you seem to see him everywhere on the pitch.
“Manchester United will obviously expect to do a lot of the attacking and probably spend significant periods of the game in Sabah’s half, so I think Sabah’s defensive players could become particularly important.”
Finally, what are Sabah’s objectives in Europe this season?
Katie: “This is the first time Sabah have ever reached the Champions League and they’re still a very young club. We’ve all seen the draw, and it certainly isn’t the easiest, so I think part of this campaign will inevitably be about enjoying the experience and the opportunity to bring some of Europe’s biggest clubs to Baku.
“But equally, Sabah have come through four rounds of qualifying to get here. You don’t fight your way through that many rounds just to arrive in the league phase and be happy with taking part. They’ll absolutely be looking at the fixture list, identifying where they can pick up points and believing they can compete.
“I think the ambition will be to reach the knockout play-offs and match what Qarabağ achieved last season. There are opportunities in the draw to pick up points, and Sabah have already shown that they’re an organised and tactically disciplined side.”
⚡️ KEY TAKEAWAYS
Manchester United vs Sabah FK is a “massive” story in Azerbaijan
United are well supported in Azerbaijan
Sabah’s Joy-Lance Mickels is one to watch
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Sabah FK form ahead of Man Utd encounter
Sabah FK go into the game in considerably stronger form than United, winning four of their last five matches.
The reigning Azerbaijani champions beat Zira 5-0 on Saturday, which means they are currently second in the league table.
Sabah will be eager to continue this run of form by causing an upset at Old Trafford.
Neftçi are currently leading the Azerbaijan Premier League, with the same amount of points as Sabah, despite playing one more game than United’s upcoming opponents.