Dmitry Sennikov: "Byshovets speaks like a professor at the institute"

Defender of the Moscow Lokomotiv Dmitry Sennikov told Sport Today correspondent about the first weeks of working with Anatoly Byshovets.

- After all, you already knew Anatoly Fedorovich, unlike other Lokomotiv players. About ten years ago he invited you to Zenit, but you refused.

- When Byshovets and Semin were introduced to us in Bakovka, Anatoly Fedorovich reminded me of this story. He said: they say, then you refused, and now you won’t get anywhere.

“He doesn't hold a grudge against you?”

- No, he was joking. When I was invited to the Zenith, there were problems with the army. I would go to Byshovets — I would rattle in the Airborne Forces. Therefore, instead of “Zenith” chose CSKA. Anatoly Fedorovich already understood my position and does not hold grudges.

- Impressions of Byshovets ten years later?

- Honestly, I do not remember exactly what he was then. But now this is a very intelligent and smart coach, with good manners. He talks with us in such a refined literary language as a professor at the institute. This is even strange perceived, because he is always wearing a tracksuit.

- Even in training, the verbal line does not cross?

“Well, maybe I’ll scream.” But this rarely happens, and without insults.

- They say that Byshovets forces players to read classics and scolds those who are fond of detectives. Have you already delivered to the Locomotive base the World Literature Library?

- Not delivered. And to myself I can say that for a year I have not read any new books. And I don’t even remember which was the last one I read. By the way, very few people in our team read Dontsova and Marinina. Think football players are so stupid? Our guys are fond of Akunin, Pelevin. Right now, historical books are in use: about Stalin, Beria. So everything is in order with this - let Anatoly Fedorovich not worry.

- Doesn’t it bother you that Byshovets spent only two full years with professional clubs during his career? In other cases, for various reasons, he did not finish the seasons.

- He did not always leave through his own fault. Somewhere there were conflicts with the leadership, somewhere with the players. This is non-football business. We will try not to conflict with him.

- But there is also a line of relations between the club management and the very demanding and capricious Byshovets.

- Hint that he will quarrel with Yuri Palych? Now he certainly will not do it, because Palych is not at the training camp. He is far away, engaged in the affairs of the club and, probably, will not visit us.

- Is it annoying that five coaches worked at Lokomotiv for a year and a half? And the newcomer for a long time was not at work ...

- But when the new coach arrives, the substitutes have a real chance to return to the base. Like mine. Under Muslim, I sat on a bench, and they did not even give me a chance. Now all the defenders in our team are fighting for the foundation on an equal footing.

- Memories of Muslim are still fresh? What is the difference between him and Byshovets?

- Muslin joined the team with a specific tactical plan. He checked us in business and said: "I will teach you to play according to the 4-3-3 scheme." Byshovets speaks little about tactics. He tries different options: with three, four defenders, with one, two or even three forwards - and has not yet come to a final decision on how to play. I don’t know what will come of these tactical searches. Then Muslin immediately told us: "You will run cross-country races to develop endurance." Almost all foreign coaches do this - ask Saturn or Zenit players. But Byshovets canceled crosses and forced him to do all the exercises with the ball - in all training sessions.

- And with "physics" will everything be all right with you?

- Yes, after exercise Anatoly Fedorovich we get more exhausted than from muslin crosses! He forces him to run with the ball from end to end of the field for two hours, doing technical tricks with him. Very hard.

- He says that such training is effective?

- In training, he only does what he remembers footballers and coaches of the past. For example, the guys and I are working out a combination, and he said: "Well done! That's how we played in 1988!" And at every training session he quotes his teachers: “As So-and-so-So-and-so-So-Takovich once said ...” Excuse me, I don’t remember either the name or the quote. I listen, delve into, but then everything flies out of my head completely.

Anton OTKIDACH


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