The football season has ended for all Russian teams, except the capital “Spartak” and CSKA - they will have the last matches in the Champions League. The duel in Portugal with the local Sporting will be of great importance for the red and white: victory will lead Muscovites to the UEFA Cup. It is possible that the goal of the Spartacists in this match will again be defended by Wojciech Kowalewski, who missed the end of the national championship due to injury. Izvestia correspondent Maria Birdina met with the Polish goalkeeper to ask him about well-being and credo.
Are you satisfied that the team won silver medals?
Honestly, last year we had more joy about the second place. Although then the situation was different - our fans really missed the European cups. I still remember those crazy emotions. And now...
What now?
External factors like mood, bad luck or bad weather are all excuses for wimps. Football is a game of mistakes. We just made more mistakes than CSKA.
Did the current championship surprise you with something?
I have been in football for almost 20 years, in Russia I have been playing for the fourth season. It's hard to surprise me ... Perhaps this was the most scandalous championship in recent times. In the press all the time there were hints of some kind of violation. I know that this problem is now being considered at the highest level. That's right, we must fight this. In Poland, a few years ago, the police organized a provocation: a front man offered the judge money. He took it, and then off and on. The criminal system gradually began to expose. An investigation is still underway. Opponents of fair play are everywhere ...
Speaking of fair play. How serious is the injury inflicted on you by Saturn striker Gyan?
I have a concussion. I want to say that I do not accept his apologies. Is that normal? The man deliberately struck me, and then arranged a whole show: he arrived with the journalists in the hospital, and asked for forgiveness. Now I’ll accelerate to 150 km / h, knock down a pedestrian, and then get out of the car: “Sorry, brother, it happened.” In this sense, I am very principled. If I see that a person does not respect his partners in the game, he immediately falls in my eyes. And do not attribute racism to me. The fact that Gyan is a black man has absolutely nothing to do with it.
Didn’t it occur to you that this episode could cost you dearly?
Thinking about bad things is the last thing. Although, when I saw a repeat of that moment on TV, I immediately remembered: Hunt just crashed into Chelsea goalkeeper Peter Cech. But my head turned out to be stronger (smiles).
You mentioned racism. Have you encountered him?
I remember when I played for Shakhtar Donetsk, I met such guys after the match. They took me for their own - I'm bald too. They say that you don’t want to take part in a fight with us? Of course, I sent them to hell. These people simply hide behind the idea of racism in order to throw out their aggression on the innocent. Racism is just an excuse for cruelty.
You played in your native Poland, in Ukraine, now in Russia. Where do you feel more comfortable?
Of course, in Poland, our village house is still calmer. I especially often began to think about security after the terrorist attack in the Moscow metro. Prior to this, he easily traveled in the subway. But then he stopped and forbade his wife. But by and large I feel good everywhere. People everywhere are the same, you just need to find a common language with them.
In Russia, you too fell in love. In fan polls, the best player regularly becomes ...
Spartak fans are another story altogether. I have never seen such cool, loyal fans anywhere. Say, after a call to the national team, I did not get into the starting lineup of the team for the match with Mallorca in the UEFA Cup. During the break I run past the stands - my soul is bad, cats scratch. And suddenly I hear so many kind words ... Then I realized: all this is mine.
But do you miss your native Polish cuisine?
Yes, I wouldn’t refuse a real Krakow sausage.
Last February, you became a dad ...
Misha is not yet a year old, but he is already a special forces soldier. So smart! The team is very fond of - when everything around is noisy and fun.
Does this feature of your son come from you?
Yes, I also love the company. But not parties - the age is not the same (laughs). Four years with his wife Anna were not at the disco. Now, for me, every exit to the stadium is a party in itself! It’s enough. And the first time I was at a disco only after school graduation. There he fell in love with a girl, but not with Anya. It was a workout. Then he hesitated a little more and met a real feeling - his wife.
In Poland, you had your own rock band ...
Well, our group didn't even have a name. They just liked to listen to Metallica with friends and tried to create something like that. Maybe we'll ever play again.
They say that you organized a charity football tournament in your homeland?
Seven years ago, two of my friends invited me to arrange such a competition. A year ago, we created the sports society "Spartacus" - as a symbol of a fair fight for a fair idea. December 17 will be the seventh tournament in a row. Everything is serious there, even a TV broadcast will be. I believe that if there is an opportunity to help someone, this must be done. Otherwise, why live?