Georgian players "have risked their lives" to play in Wales on Wednesday, with new coach Hector Cuper vowing to do his best to take Georgia to the World Cup finals.
Cuper has taken charge of Georgia for the first time, and has not even been allowed into the country ahead of their trip to Wales because of the recent conflict between Georgia and Russia.
But the former Valencia and Inter Milan boss has no intention of backing out of his new role, with the first World Cup qualifier with the Republic of Ireland due next month.
The Argentinian said: "The situation has been very difficult, the conflict between Georgia and Russia has made it so.
"We have had problems getting our players out, our kit and our staff.
"Now we aim for a good result with the right spirit and motivation.
"But the conflict has been very negative, it has been impossible to forget things that have been happening.
"This is the first contact I have had with my new players, we needed to train and play this match.
"After this we have our first World Cup qualifier in September against the Irish. We are working together here and that is important for us in the future.
"We hope that game can be played in Tbilisi, but we will have to wait for a decision on that.
"We have to put in maximum effort to have the respect of the Georgian people, for what they have been through.
"They are looking for a good and positive result, and we will be doing our best for them.
"I will do my best now to lead this team to the World Cup finals. What has happened to Georgia has made me even more determined to work for them.
"The Georgian people and the Georgian nation deserve that and I will do all I can to make it happen."
Petar Segrt, the Georgian federation's technical director and former manager, has had to organise this trip with Cuper left in Spain and he revealed the lengths they have gone to get to Swansea. He said: "The Russians did not believe we could get 18 players out of the country for this game, but we have done it.
"We had to spend 20 hours on a bus, very dangerous, going to Baku (the capital of Azerbaijan) for our visas.
"The result is not important. It is a simple way to show the Russians that they can bomb us and send in tanks, but you will never stop the Georgian people."
But the former Valencia and Inter Milan boss has no intention of backing out of his new role, with the first World Cup qualifier with the Republic of Ireland due next month.
The Argentinian said: "The situation has been very difficult, the conflict between Georgia and Russia has made it so.
"We have had problems getting our players out, our kit and our staff.
"Now we aim for a good result with the right spirit and motivation.
"But the conflict has been very negative, it has been impossible to forget things that have been happening.
"This is the first contact I have had with my new players, we needed to train and play this match.
"After this we have our first World Cup qualifier in September against the Irish. We are working together here and that is important for us in the future.
"We hope that game can be played in Tbilisi, but we will have to wait for a decision on that.
"We have to put in maximum effort to have the respect of the Georgian people, for what they have been through.
"They are looking for a good and positive result, and we will be doing our best for them.
"I will do my best now to lead this team to the World Cup finals. What has happened to Georgia has made me even more determined to work for them.
"The Georgian people and the Georgian nation deserve that and I will do all I can to make it happen."
Petar Segrt, the Georgian federation's technical director and former manager, has had to organise this trip with Cuper left in Spain and he revealed the lengths they have gone to get to Swansea. He said: "The Russians did not believe we could get 18 players out of the country for this game, but we have done it.
"We had to spend 20 hours on a bus, very dangerous, going to Baku (the capital of Azerbaijan) for our visas.
"The result is not important. It is a simple way to show the Russians that they can bomb us and send in tanks, but you will never stop the Georgian people."
Copyright (c) Press Association
Related Articles
Former Everton Aussie now starring at 'very attacking' Bolton
Welsh minnows unveil reversible football jersey
