- At the coaching staff, assembled by Byshovets, you are perhaps the most iconic and famous character. At the time of your gaming career, you were a favorite of Spartak fans.
- A player’s career and coaching are completely different activities. And I'm not so cult: after all, Vladimir Lyuty is an Olympic champion and Sergey Gerasimets also played in good teams. And now that we have become coaches, it makes no sense to count who has how many titles.
“But you were very popular anyway.” I remember you didn’t play in 2001, and a red pennant with your portrait was sold in a fan shop.
- And yet it does not affect the coaching work.
- And when did you start training?
- In that very 2001th. He came to one of the KFK championship teams, “Almaz” was called. There, training was carried out only twice a week. Although the bosses set a task for me, and in two years I solved it: I brought the team into the second league. But then there was no finance to support it. After that, he was an assistant to Anatoly Fedorovich in various clubs: in the Portuguese “Maritimo”, in “Khimki”, two years ago - in “Tom”.
- And now they have come to Lokomotiv, which, unlike previous clubs, is aiming for gold. Did you feel the difference?
- In addition to the championship, Loko has ambitious plans in the Euroarena. This, of course, is a different level compared to Khimki or Tomyu. But at Maritimo, the bosses were waiting for us to enter the European competition. This team is the fifth to sixth in Portugal. Not a super club, of course. But the tough tasks for the season set by the leaders are familiar to me. Although Loko, of course, has other requirements. And another responsibility.
- The last Russian club where you played were Wings of the Soviets?
- I stayed there for about six months. It can be said that he didn’t really play, he went out more for replacements. Then I was thinking about ending my career. Although forces still remained, and in the 99th there was an offer from the Portuguese “Alverka”. Portugal is not a foreign country for me, I played there for a long time and lived well. So, as soon as the opportunity arose to return there, I did not even hesitate.
- In life, you go with Byshovets - Loko is the fourth club where you work together. He seems to have no other such faithful helper.
- We understand each other both professionally and humanly. He knows that I share his views on football and how to work with me. And I, in turn, am familiar with his requirements and know how to fulfill them. In the 90th year, he called me to the national team. And since then we have developed good relations, first as a player with a coach, and then as colleagues.
- The new headquarters of Lokomotiv has been over a month and a half. Is it hard to work?
- I will not say that the work is hellishly complicated. Because she is interesting. Perhaps it causes fatigue, but only one that brings satisfaction. Of course, you spend energy, moral and physical. After all, constantly in contact with people. Despite the fact that you are an assistant, you have to think a lot, analyze, keep abreast of events, express an opinion. Each of us has his own set of responsibilities. Although the last word is still for the head coach.
- And what are you responsible for?
- I work more with the defensive line. Still, he was a defender, I can tell you something, especially the young ones. Together with other coaches, I discuss how to organize team actions in defense, regardless of role.
- You can, for example, tell the main thing: do we need another central defender?
- I can express my opinion, advise, but not demand. This is already Byshovets will ask the leadership to buy a player for a particular position.
- Is the Lokomotiv defense line fully equipped?
- Given that the championship ahead, the Cups of Russia and UEFA, then people are still needed.
- Do you work with someone individually or with all the defenders at once?
- Individually working with youth from the double. And with Sennikov, Fininho and other mature football players we are working out common tactical actions according to the plan of the head coach. They are qualified players, and it is not necessary to work with them individually.
- Lokomotiv bought the Italian goalkeeper, who seems to be the main one. In what language will he communicate on the field with partners?
- In Russian. I am sure that Pelizzoli will not need much time to learn the number of Russian words that is needed to communicate with the defenders. My opinion: all team players must communicate in Russian, that is, all legionnaires need to learn it as much as necessary.
“And even the Brazilians?” You already have Finigno, Celsinho. Maybe someone else will appear. In CSKA, for example, Brazilians are too lazy to learn the language at least a little.
- I do not know how the army men are. I expressed my opinion to you.
- The activity of Lokomotiv in the transfer market makes us expect serious personnel shocks.
- The skeleton will still be preserved. There have been changes. But now the situation has returned to normal, everything is in working mode.
- But for what reason have you been expelled from the team of Evseev?
- You know, you are not addressing. If this was my decision, I would justify it to you now.
- The wording “unprofessional attitude to the training process” sounded there ...
“I don't know what the wording was.” And I have nothing to add.
- Yuri Semin often comes to the camp?
- Yes, he has good contact with the team and coaches.
- What does “contact” mean?
- Yuri Pavlovich came to the Portuguese gathering. Soon he will come here to Turkey. Will watch test matches.
Anton OTKIDACH