- On Thursday you have to play the first match. Are there any inconvenient rivals for your team?
- Yes, all rivals are uncomfortable. Everyone needs to find the key. There are no simple commands. Everyone should be respected and beat them at the expense of their strengths.
- Who looks the best in your team?
- These are the “red”, “black” “blue” and “white” links.
- Is it in descending order?
- No, we just have four links.
“Have you appointed a captain?”
- Alexey Morozov.
- Why he?
- We believe that Morozov should be the captain, and Zhenya Varlamov and Sasha Kharitonov should be his assistants.
- Have you decided on the goalkeeper who will play in the first meeting?
- Not yet.
- Alexander Eremenko was injured. If it turns out to be serious, will you invite someone else?
- This is a question for which I do not know the answer. You are talking about some kind of damage, but I have not been in the locker room and do not own the information. It’s too early to talk about this.
- How do you like the new palace? Is it hard to breathe here?
- Breathes for now. Not dead. Naturally, it is warmer here than in Novogorsk, where we train. Here the temperature is four to five degrees higher. That's why we came here to feel the atmosphere. We’ll come here on Thursday to roll out. Hope that traffic allows.
- Will you still get to the games from Novogorsk?
- Yes, we are based there.
“But there can be traffic jams on the way.” Decided not to move closer to the palace?
- Now yes. But during the World Cup, everything will depend on how the federation reacts to our request.
- Are there any claims to ice? They say that it is very soft.
- Rivals will play on the same ice. At first he was fast and bulky. But, naturally, over time, these properties disappear. But the quality is normal. I liked it, I don’t know how the players.
- And the locker rooms?
- Not yet settled down. But in the arena itself ripples in the eyes. We are not used to it. But nothing, over time, get comfortable.
- Perhaps Vladimir Putin will come to one of the matches ...
“... did he tell you that?”
- Let's say. So, will this not affect the players? Won't they be too nervous?
- I cannot forbid Vladimir Putin to come to matches! And that it will put pressure on our players - no, of course. He is an athlete himself, and we will only be pleased if the president visits our game.
Alexey Shevchenko