- I remember, about four years ago, when you were not yet in the club, the leadership of Moscow announced a plan according to which in 2007 it should become a champion. Waiting for gold?
- Since then, competition in the fight for the championship has grown very much. Four years ago, the formation of the team began from scratch. And this is a rather difficult way, so that you won’t reach the peaks you mentioned. It is up to the players to strive to win every match. And leaders should set tasks for the team based on the work that has been done. We have not yet announced tasks. Probably, at the meeting before the start of the championship they will say what they want from us. But, I think, none of the players will refuse to win the championship. Our team is balanced and capable of much.
- Buying Krunich - a serious gain?
- Competition has not bothered anyone. And newcomers, including Krunich, will try to squeeze the maximum and prove that they are no worse than those guys who were already on the team. On the nose matches of the Cup of Russia. And the season is long, and there will be enough time for everyone to prove their worth.
- By the way, have you set goals in the Cup?
- So this is such a special competition, where everyone sets the task to win. Including us.
- In the new season, Barrientos will be the main trump card of “Moscow”?
- Now the main thing for him is to quickly get in shape after an injury. The Argentinean is very talented. I think he will help us.
- Do you agree that the club elite has formed in the Russian Premier League, what happens sooner or later in any championship? Elite means CSKA, Spartak and Lokomotiv. The last time there is torn and “Zenith”.
- This is not the elite, but the three clubs that have played most vividly and steadily in recent years. Zenit is still difficult to classify with them. He does not have stable results, and huge money investments do not solve everything in football. You don’t rank Moscow Dynamo here, and in two years it spent more on players than any of the Russian clubs.
- What will Moscow do with the hegemony of leaders? Accept the role of the fifth superfluous?
- For the fifth line, many teams are fighting. So we still have to defend it. The club should have a good infrastructure and staff assembled from professionals. Therefore, football players need to play better, and the club - add to the organization. Last season, we lost in the sum of two meetings only to CSKA and Rubin, there were no more defeats from the favorites. We must achieve stability. We want to play as before, add where something did not work out, and through progress in the game go up the table.
- You were not called to the national team again ...
- Absolutely not offended. This is natural, there is competition in the team. Hiddink has already picked up players whose capabilities he knows and relies on.
- And, for example, Alexey Smertin was offended by Hiddink when the Dutchman did not call him. He even refused to comment for us on the match of the national team in Holland.
- Why take offense? Hiddink, unfortunately, can not see all the matches with the participation of Russian players, he misses something. I need to play better in order to get a chance. But my team must be strong. Nobody will challenge a football player whose team shows inexpressive football. But, of course, you need to start with yourself.
- But Hiddink was at the matches of “Moscow”.
- A maximum of two. But I, unfortunately, did not play these games.
- Before Euro 2000, English striker Andy Cole refused to go to the national team, saying that he would still be sitting there on a bench. If you are called, even to the reserve, will you go?
- Of course, no questions asked.
- Have you seen the match Netherlands - Russia?
- Not. There was no Channel One in our hotel. Only a video review looked.
- And How?
- The Dutch play interesting attacking football, and are still in good shape. There was nothing to oppose such Dutch with our team. Even Hiddink did not help with his tactical finds.
- Glad that Leonid Slutsky remained in the club?
- Highly. It is necessary to give him the opportunity to work calmly, to realize his coaching ideas on the field. I think the team lacks balance in terms of game quality and some tactical components. But in general, the game of “Moscow” looks good.
- After Italy, did you remember something other than sparring and continuous training?
- Before departure, they remained free for half a day, and we decided to devote their excursions to the Vatican. We went around all the sights, and then whiled away time, walking around Rome.
- For news feeds, the victory over Roma became the most delicious event of your gathering.
- It was her either the second or the duplicate. But the match was not so easy. We had an overwhelming advantage, but the opponents could score a couple of times too.
Anton OTKIDACH