IS VALERY GAZZAYEV BUILDING A GAME FROM DEFENSE?
Basil: We work out the game in defense along with other game components.
Alexei: Defense begins with an attack. In almost all situations, almost the whole team defends here. When we do not have a ball, a defensive scheme begins to operate, we are constantly working on it.
ARE SMALL DEFENSE GAMES FOR CSKA?
Basil: Enough. It is not necessary to buy seven to eight defenders when four can cope with the task. We are already used to playing in such a rhythm and have time to recover, and, thank God, the defense players did not drop out for a long time due to injuries.
Alexei: Over the past few years, we have been playing four of us, and, as practice shows, last year, the year before last, and this one, there are enough of these players. We all change in circles if someone has an injury or malaise, and the result remains consistently good.
HOW MANY DEFENSE CONSTRUCTION OPTIONS DO CSKA USE? WHAT PERSONALLY DO YOU SEE MORE COMFORTABLE AND RELIABLE?
Vasily: We have a lot of options for building a defense. The scheme with Ignashevich in the center and Scheberas on the right in the midfield seems to me more reliable.
Alexei: We have one option - three defenders, and he is the most reliable.
IS THE GAME WITH THE LIBERO FINALLY FORGOTTEN?
Basil: Finally. We always have an insurance player, however, according to the situation, it changes, and we do not play with pure libero.
Alexey: Finally. This scheme has long been forgotten and will not return, because in modern football the functions of players on the field are constantly changing and, according to the situation, any player can perform this function. The Libero died without regaining consciousness!
WHAT IS THE SPECIAL ROLE OF SERGEY IGNASHEVICH?
Vasily: Like Igor Akinfeev, he is on the last line of defense, he sees everything, and he needs a timely “prompt” and organization of the entire defensive line.
Alexei: The whole "clue" comes from him.
In what situations do you fully rely on Igor Akinfeev, and in which he gives you the right to deal with the opponent?
Vasily: There are no agreements on this score. Our task is to prevent shots on goal, and Igor to hit the balls.
Alexei: There is no persuasion, there is only one rule: if the player who is behind you (Sergey Ignashevich or Igor Igor Akinfeev) tells you, his word is law. Even if he tells you wrong.
WHAT WAY VALERY GAZZAEV ASKS YOU TO START AN ATTACK - SHORT OR LONG PASS?
Vasily: There are no special instructions in this regard. In training, we play various models of the beginning of attacking actions.
Alexei: We can start our attacks in different ways: with a long pass, and short, and very long, and very short.
HOW DO YOU PARTICIPATE IN THE ATTACK?
Basil: We must constantly connect to standard positions, because we are tall and play well with our heads, and in the game we do not want to connect and expose our zone.
Alexei: During standard positions, we always connect, and connection to attacks during the match was never encouraged.
WHAT QUALITIES OF THE GAME OF DEFENDERS VALERY GAZZAEV appreciates MUCH ALL?
Basil: Reliability, the struggle on the second floor, the game ahead of the curve.
Alexei: Reliability, tactical horizons, and if the defender can still give the first pass, then this is some kind of Maldini!
WHAT DO YOU LEARN FROM VALERY GAZZAEV?
Basil: Almost everything. I learned a lot in tactical terms, and technically added a lot after I joined CSKA. Still, “Torpedo-ZIL”, from where I moved to CSKA, is a team of a lower level, and I developed and improved those skills that I had.
Alexey: Self-confidence and a feeling of winner.
DO YOU WORK ABOUT COORDINATION OF MOVEMENT?
Basil: In training, we have a lot of coordination exercises, but I don’t do them on purpose.
Alexey: No.
DO YOU PROGRESS IN PHYSICAL PREPARATION? DOES IT EXPRESS IN TEST RESULTS?
Vasily: I never had problems with physical training, however, adding now in speed or endurance will be quite difficult. The body has already formed in principle.
Alexei: I have not passed any tests for five years now and I don’t understand why they are needed. And physically I feel equally good, both before and now.
DOES YOUR KIND HELP THE ORIGIN OF A SPECIAL UNDERSTANDING ON THE FIELD?
Vasily: Of course, it helps, although I have a very good understanding with both Šemberas and Ignashevich. I always know exactly how and what my brother will do. From the latter, I recall the moment in the game against “Torpedo”, when Heinrich threw the ball between me and his brother and began to pretend, demanding a penalty. And we stopped at the same time, and Heinrich was given a second yellow card and removed from the field.