On Monday, answering questions from Izvestia correspondent Mikhail Shpenkov, he did not complain about staffing problems.
Was it hard to send Ignashevich to Moscow?
Yes, we have been discussing this issue for quite some time. First consulted with doctors and masseurs. Then the three of us gathered: I and other coaches - Alexander Borodyuk and Igor Korneev. In the end, they decided that it was not worth risking the player’s health. Yes, he has some improvements. But the fact is that Ignashevich’s leg still hurts. It affects the hematoma, and the nerve reacts. Sergey was ready to train through force. But it is dangerous - damage can be aggravated. Nothing, we will look for the optimal composition without him.
Do you worry about Titov and Arshavin's health anymore?
You yourself saw that they trained on Monday with a full load. Arshavin had a sore back on the weekend - there was a tough collision in training. But now this microtrauma no longer bothers him. Well, Titov’s temperature just jumped. This is not flu, so our doctors quickly put it on its feet.
Until now, with you, the Russian team played with four defenders. But now the team has a clear deficit of defense representatives. Ready to change tactics and release only three defenders in Skopje?
A coach should not be obsessed with any one version of the game. On the eve of the match, we will once again weigh the pros and cons and make the final decision.
In training in Sochi, you paid a lot of attention to practicing shots on goal, including at close range. Do you consider them the main problem of Russian players?
Not at all. Recently, we often saw how Russian footballers and players of western clubs miss out on advantageous moments. It is enough to recall the same “Arsenal” in the London match with CSKA. Any professional should constantly practice in performing not even the most seemingly complex, but very important elements. And strikes just relate to those.
What can you say about the work of your assistants at the Black Sea training camp?
I am very pleased with the way they work. Alex Borodyuk and Igor Korneev are in great physical shape. Both of them took part in the exercises almost on a par with the players of the national team.
Are you satisfied with the collection organization?
Yes. And first of all I want to say thanks to the people who hosted us here. They did everything they could. Of course, here in Sochi, it would be nice to improve the infrastructure of sports facilities. For example, the field on which we trained so far has no electric lighting. But at least we were convinced that the training of the main team of Russia can be carried out not only in Moscow.
Have you already thought about how many points our team will need to score to leave the group?
I thought, of course. But to give an exact answer to this question will be difficult almost until the very finish of the tournament. A very unpredictable situation is taking shape in our group. It has several teams that can break into the finals of the European Championship. And all participants are ready to take points from each other. In the end, the favorites can just “kill” each other. A surprise, perhaps, will present one of the dark horses. But, I think, in order to take one of the first two places, the Russian team needs to score about 15 points in the remaining nine matches.