Denis Boyarintsev: “I would like to play at least a season in the English Premier League”

- Denis, “Spartak” had a chance this year to get to the “Luzhniki” for the Champions League match on the subway. It was probably a good opportunity to chat with fans. And what do you think of the public in principle? Are you interested in what the fans say about you on the Internet sites, do you visit the forums?

- Of course, I'm interested in the opinions of people. But I prefer eye contact. I don’t see a visitor to the website, it’s much harder for me to talk to him, to listen to his opinion, not knowing anything about him.

“ But eye contact is rare.” Still, the trip by subway is an extraordinary event.

- We meet with fans at special evenings organized by the club at the beginning of the year, and just on the street and in the same metro. By the way, I often use the metro, now in the city it is sometimes a real salvation. It's not a problem for me to talk to a stranger. If he is adequate, he will ask two or three questions, and that’s all over. Although there are complex characters who literally "hold the button."

- And does it happen to meet fans who are critical, really not happy with your game?

- You know, I have never seen expressions of outright discontent once this season. Although I had obvious mistakes - both in the game with Luch at the beginning of the championship and in the Champions League with Inter. The criticism in this case was well deserved, but perhaps I came across tactful people.

“ Do you seem to be calm about criticism?”

- Yes, after I got to Spartak, I take it for granted. Because all the actions of the team are under the microscope of spectator attention. And each fan not only observes, but is also ready to give some advice, make comments and praise as a major specialist. And we, the players, I think, should be calm about this. In addition, the past year has become decisive for me, I understood a lot and, in particular, I became more calm about criticism. So now it’s very difficult for me to unbalance.

- Why did you, a football player of the attacking plan, have to play in Spartak in a variety of positions, including a defensive midfielder? Did you have to patch up the holes that existed in Spartak at that time, or did the coaches see a defensive potential in you?

- Alexander Starkov gave me a try at a new position. Of course, I did not immediately feel comfortable, but such an experience was not in vain. Now, under Vladimir Fedotov, I again play mostly closer to the attack, but may have become a more versatile player.

- Due to what “Spartak” will be able to reach the level of the modern European team?

- It seems to me that in the last Champions League games - with Bavaria in Moscow and with Sporting in Lisbon - we finally felt that we could play on equal footing with European grandees. Self-confidence appeared, experience. After a long break, Spartak finally left for Europe, and now we will prepare differently for the next international matches. I think partly I answered your question.

- Tell us about the young players of Spartak. It is often said that many of them were invited to the national team too early, and they were also allowed to play with Spartak.

- Honor and praise to Fedotov, who actively began to invite double players. Each of them is talented, and the only thing is those priceless properties: experience and confidence. This also applies to Roman Shishkin, who already lives up to expectations, and Dima Torbinsky, and Lesha Rebko. I think Spartak can seriously rely on Nikita Bazhenov, but there are still guys on the way.

- Can they be considered Spartak players in spirit, in the game? It seems to many that it is extremely important: to have as many of your own pupils as possible on the team. And can we talk now about the Spartak school, the Spartak atmosphere?

- Whether they are Spartak or not, Yegor Titov knows best of all, who himself passed the Spartak school and has been playing at Spartak for a very long time. I personally like the guys, it is obvious that they are promising.

- Is Denis Boyarintsev a Spartak player?

- It is difficult to answer, but I think I can play Spartak football, although I am a somewhat different player. In the previous team, Kazan “Ruby”, the emphasis was on the flanks, and I formed just like a flank player, for which I am often criticized by Spartak fans.

- There are footballers whom you follow closely, do you continue to learn from others?

- Yes, for example, David Beckham. I carefully watch how he puts his supporting foot, because for me a canopy from the flank into the penalty area is one of the most important elements of the game. And as you put the supporting one, you will hang it.

- The coach of Rubin Kurban Berdyev is a secretive, we know too little about him, despite the obvious successes. What do you remember from working with him? What did he teach you, did he bring you to a certain level, what can you tell about him from what is unknown to the general public?

- He is a rather closed person, not only for the public, the players are also “at a distance” from him. This is the character, and I think it’s his right to make the team closed or open to journalists and fans. If it brings a result. And no one will doubt it. Look how many leaders have gone in the last two years: Roman Sharonov, Sergey Kozko, Czechs Chizhek and Novotny, well, Boyarintsev too ... But Berdyev continues to work quietly and creates an almost new team. It is fully operational, I must say. This is the merit of the coach, not just breeders. Look, Dynamo also bought a lot of good players, but they still need to be combined and create a team of like-minded people. This is the essence of Berdyev’s work: he knows how to work, and knows how to make his ideas known to the team.

- What ties did you have with those who are playing in Kazan now?

- Any team leaves an imprint in the soul. I recall the period spent in Nost from Novotroitsk, and even more so the time of Rubin. I still communicate with the guys from the team, though mostly with those who, like me, already play in other clubs: with Sergey Kozko, with Roman Sharonov, with those with whom we won bronze in 2004. When I get to Kazan, I’m definitely going to the base to meet with the club’s employees and players.

- Do you review your games, in particular, the Kazan period?

- Yes, and with great pleasure, especially at the end of the football season with loved ones. There is such a tradition in our family - on New Year's Day, to recall all the good moments of the past matches of the year and thank the football god for all the good things that happened.

- What was the invitation to Spartak for you?

- Although Spartak was not very successful at that moment and seemed to be the eighth in the championship, for me it was a huge event. The situation in the tournament did not change anything: Spartak is Spartak. I was not his special fan, but in the 1990s Spartak was liked by everyone who sincerely loved football. And in 2004, an invitation to the Moscow team for me, a Muscovite who played a lot in the provinces, was a true fulfillment of a dream. In that period of my career, in any case, I was going to leave Rubin in order to grow, and my goal was to return to Moscow. Invitations from other clubs were also: from Dynamo and Lokomotiv. However, after weighing everything, evaluating the composition of the teams, I realized that I would play in Spartak.

- What are your plans for the future, what are you dreaming about now?

- First of all, I really want to become a champion in Spartak. I dream of enjoying this holiday, because Spartak is a great team, we all realize this, and everyone wants to take a direct part in its return to the top of the podium.

- How do you assess the confrontation with the champion of this season - CSKA?

- CSKA is more stable than Spartak in terms of composition, in the sense that for a long time nothing has changed dramatically for them. And, most importantly, the coach has been working with the team for a long time. Still, the hassle of changing coaches is not good for anyone. I believe that in terms of game class, experience and today's squad, Spartak and CSKA are equal teams, and we can compete with the army team on an equal footing. It was a pity during the championship to lose points in matches with teams in which Spartak should win anyway. This is our instability. CSKA managed to concentrate better, although they also lost a lot of “unnecessary” points.

- In 2005, in the UEFA Cup you, already a Spartak player, were rooting for CSKA?

- Yes of course. For our country, for Russian football, it was a breakthrough, for the first time we won the Cup, and I sincerely supported Russia. So many fans and football players think the same way.

- What news do you have in your team in preparation for the new season?

- I was extended the contract for a year, Sport-Express made a mistake writing about the “year plus year” scheme, but now, maybe this is not too important. I don’t know anything more. Our holidays end on January 6, then much will be known, after all, the club intends to basically complete the picking before the first gathering.

- You are waiting for the early start of the season: the first games in the 1/16 finals of the UEFA Cup are coming in mid-February. “Spartacus” has not had this for a long time. Did any trainers or managers have any conversations on this subject before the holidays?

- Many in the club have experience of such an early preparation, and no one makes a problem out of it. Personally, I also do not see anything special. Although there is a difficult season ahead, and whether there is enough strength for him, this is a question. It is difficult to answer now.

- You traveled a lot with Spartak: fees, international games, trips within the framework of the championship. When you come to another city, are you interested in anything other than football?

- In foreign trips it is always interesting to see the city, take a walk to the local town hall or castle, and in our cities, alas, everything is pretty monotonous, and most often we are satisfied with the views from the bus window. Well, of course, the exception is Peter. I remember when I was still playing in the first league, we had a two-game trip, we played two days later in the third in St. Petersburg and Kaliningrad, and in St. Petersburg then we had white nights ... Well, how not to take a walk! Walked until the morning, in a good way, of course: walked, admired the city.

- How do you feel about the games in the UEFA Cup? Someone believes that “Spartacus” is now most important experience, and some of the fans seriously dream of victory. The laurels of CSKA haunt?

- Of course, I want to compete for the title. It will sound corny, but it is customary to set the highest goals in Spartak.

- On the eve of the draw, we wondered which clubs I would like to meet with, and which ones - not really?

- I am a fan of British football, and it would be nice to play with the British or the Scots.

- By the way, did you think about going abroad? Would you like to play in England?

- Of course I wanted to. And now I want to. And if an option suddenly appears, I’ll definitely go to England, I won’t even think for a long time. And I don’t care - it will be Chelsea or Fulham, I just want to play at least a season in the English Premier League.