Kairat head coach Rafael Urazbakhtin has shared his team's mindset ahead of their opening Conference League league phase match against Latvia's Riga. According to him, the Almaty side see their participation in the tournament as a chance to gain new experience and show their level, infohub.kz reports.

"The team's mood is good, we're up for the fight. We talked with the players and agreed that these matches are a new experience for each of us: the players, the coaching staff and the club. Everyone should see them as a chance to prove themselves and show what we are capable of," the club's press service quoted Urazbakhtin as saying.

The coach stressed that Kairat's participation in the main stage of a European competition matters not only to the club.

"Of course, it's important that we are in this tournament. It matters to every player, to the club and to Kazakhstan as a whole," he noted.

Urazbakhtin also spoke separately about Kazakh teams' regular participation in European competitions. In his view, domestic clubs should aim every season to reach at least the Conference League.

"I said last year too that it doesn't matter which tournament it is — our teams must qualify for at least the Conference League every year. It's necessary to be constantly involved in European competitions and gain experience. It will help raise the profile of our clubs in Europe and of our country," Urazbakhtin said.

The Kairat boss added that European matches should help the team not only make a name for itself but also gain experience that will serve the club in the future.

"We see European tournaments as an opportunity to show ourselves and gain the necessary experience that will later help both our club and the country," the coach concluded.

Recall that Kairat will play their first league phase match in the Conference League on 15 October in Riga against the club of the same name. The meeting at Skonto Stadium will kick off at 21:45 Kazakhstan time.

In the league phase, Urazbakhtin's team will also face Panathinaikos, Atalanta, Mjällby, Universitatea and Twente.