- How do you like the Channel One Cup? Why is it becoming more popular than the Commonwealth Cup and now there is talk that one tournament will completely replace another?
- It's simple - the Commonwealth Cup is held in the arena. And now there are too few teams wishing to play on artificial turf. We do not train at synthetics at all. Too much risk of injury.
- And if the Commonwealth Cup were played on normal fields, would everyone go there?
- I think yes. After all, this tournament is needed to prepare for the season. The more friendly matches played in the offseason, the better.
- You relate to the tournament from a purely technical point of view. But what about nostalgia for Soviet times?
- And this is not our business. Let management deal with such issues. I've heard that from next year the teams will come to Moscow with the main squads. But, it seems, the selection of teams will also intensify on the Channel One Cup. The most interesting thing is what will happen in the end.
- Let's talk about Dynamo Kyiv. In recent years, the best Ukrainian club has turned out to be difficult. Some people think you have a crisis. Do you agree?
- What other crisis?
- Gaming, for example.
- All this is nonsense.
- But Dynamo is the only club from the participants of the Channel One Cup that will not play in the UEFA Cup in the spring. It is unlikely that you are satisfied with this.
“But that doesn't mean anything.” And it certainly does not indicate a crisis. All participants in the Champions League had different strength groups. I would see how other members of the Champions League played in our group, for example, from Russia. Matter of chance. Although, perhaps, we had a recession in the League. It happens after all?
- Well, there is no crisis. Just not a very good season.
- There was still some semblance of crisis - in the League. But everything is already behind. This is a story, remembering failure does not make sense.
- You played a draw with Spartak. Shakhtar lost to CSKA. Is it possible to say that the level of the Russian championship is increasing, and the level of the Ukrainian championship is not growing?
“I would not say that.” We have enough teams that are fighting for prizes. And in Russia a similar situation. Every year, CSKA, Spartak, Lokomotiv and Zenit argue for the championship. Nothing changes.
- So we have four clubs claiming the title, and in Ukraine there are only two.
- Your third place from the fourth is already separated by several points. In general, no one argues that the Russian championship is stronger. But in Ukraine, for example, other teams against Dynamo Kyiv have long been doomed. Each club is fighting for victory, trying. Previously, this was not so. We went onto the field calmly, knowing that we would get three points if the opponent is not Shakhtar. Today, everything is different.
- And what is your impression of Spartak?
- This is a good team. I think that sooner or later they will become champions.
- Do they have a chance in the Channel One Cup final?
- No, now CSKA is stronger. This is a very decent club. We saw them in the season, saw them in Israel. They will replay the red and white.
- You played in Russia quite a bit, and then went to Ukraine. There was no desire to return?
- I didn’t just leave, but to a club that fights for the championship and constantly plays in European club tournaments. I did not have such an opportunity in Russia.
Alexey SHEVCHENKO, Ashdod