The entrance to the conference room LFK CSKA was guarded by three riot police. One, of course, checked the credentials, and two more carefully examined the incoming. It seemed that they shone with a look, looked into the soul. Portuguese journalists looked perplexedly at the cracked walls of the building and cautiously seated themselves in shaky chairs - wow the champion of the country!
From the stage, the press menacingly instructed the club’s press attaché Sergei Aksenov.
- No questions about the match. Everything will last three to five minutes, - he suddenly flew up to one of the journalists. - Do you understand? I know what you want to ask. Do not even think about it.
The press attache knew very well what questions to Gazzayev would be really interesting. And he was afraid that the meeting would turn into a scandal. Especially on the day when the head coach of the army club is so sad - his brother died. But no one in his thoughts did not wrestle man's nerves.
There were doubts that Valery Georgievich would appear at a traditional meeting. But he found the courage to come. And his grief betrayed only an unusually quiet voice.
“Both CSKA and Porto are the leading clubs in their countries,” he said in response to a request to compare the two clubs. - We just became champions, and Porto is the leader in Portugal. Each of the clubs knows its strengths and weaknesses perfectly.
- Are you happy with a draw in this match? - one of the Portuguese reporters asked with hope.
Gazzaev allowed himself to smile, sharing the anxiety of the Iberian guest:
- We are satisfied with any result that will allow us to reach the next round of the Champions League.
This answer was partly encouraging for the Portuguese. After all, there is a chance, albeit tiny, that Arsenal will not be able to defeat Hamburg.
“It is probably difficult for you to prepare for this meeting,” one of the journalists began, and the press attache immediately turned pale. But everything was not so scary. - You did celebrate the championship this weekend. Is it hard to set up soccer players?
The coach grinned again, very bitterly:
- We did not have time for the festivities. We will all celebrate when the games are over.
There was absolutely nothing to write about. And one of the colleagues could not cope with the excitement and called the interlocutor Valery Gazzaevich. He did not even begin to listen to the question, turning to another.
But the situation was saved by team captain Sergei Ignashevich. He suddenly unexpectedly detailed and coherently spoke about his vision of the game:
- I think everyone in the Portuguese club needs to be afraid. Especially extreme midfielders, as well as central strikers. The team is very strong at drawing standard positions. We will have a hard time.
Portuguese reporters immediately remembered how two years ago Ignashevich did not score a penalty against Porto.
“There was a case,” Sergei blushed. - This is one of the most unpleasant episodes in my career. But if they again entrust me to beat the eleven meter, then I will go.
When the meeting ended, the reassured TV men rushed to Ignashevich with questions in order to revive the boring plot.
“And I do not give an interview,” the captain said sparingly and disappeared behind the broad backs of the riot police.
But it all started so well.
Alexey Shevchenko