- The transition to Hamburg was a step forward in your career?
- So far, you can’t say that. It is very difficult to compare CSKA and Hamburg, if only because they play in different championships. CSKA was the champion of Russia three times, but last year Hamburg took third place in Germany, and the big question is which achievement is more important. If you remember, the qualifying match before the Champions League was played by both the army team and Hamburg. In any case, each of these clubs is strong in its own way. I can say for sure that I have moved to a stronger league - and this is clearly not a step back.
- Have you already felt the difference in the level of championships?
- Of course. The Bundesliga is several orders of magnitude stronger than the Russian Premier League. All talk about the fact that Russia is approaching the German championship in level is unjustified. I can say this with confidence, having played only a few matches here. There are no passing games in the Bundesliga, and the result is very difficult to predict, especially this year, when for the first time in a long time, Bayern have not headed the table. Take the example of the same Hamburg. Until recently, we lost to everyone and lost points. We were considered outsiders and were in the departure zone. And now we win, including the leaders. In other words, creating sensations. And now even bookmakers do not consider us losers. German clubs are built more thoughtfully than in Russia, even the weakest. And in European competition, Germany is more successful than Russia, although Russian clubs can sometimes go far in Europe by defeating a German club along the way. I remember this happened before, but this year, as you know, Russian clubs have failed.
- The new head coach Hub Stevens plays with one striker, and you regularly go on the field, despite the fact that the club has five more good strikers. Did he like you so much?
- Probably, he wanted to refresh the game with a new football player. And your statement about one striker is not entirely true. Under the attacker - me or Bubakar Sanogo - there is always another attacking player, who is perhaps even more forward than myself. I mean Raphael van der Warth. He plays the forward position of the second pace. Rough on the field almost does not do too much work, each of his actions in the attack benefits the team. In football, he knows almost everything. Such a scheme so far works very well, and it brought the team nine points. (Olic scored his first goal for Hamburg with the transfer of van der Warth - see video.)
“So it's easier to play with van der Wart than with Carvalho?”
“Not only Raf can give me the transfer.” He also performs the role of a striker. Among the guys in “Hamburg” I have already become an authority - as they say in Russia, “rose”. I realized this from day one. And then, I really like the city, although it is considered expensive. My wife often went to Hamburg to rest. She dreamed of moving here, and I made her such a gift.
- Do you follow the games of CSKA? Have you watched matches with Maccabi?
- If I have the opportunity, then of course I watch the matches of my former team. I follow the performance of army men in all tournaments, although in Germany it is not always possible to set up Russian television channels. Then I will learn about the results of CSKA on the Internet and the news. I have not seen the lost match against Maccabi, I can say the same about the departure from the Cup of Russia. I hope to see the Super Cup and the games of the championship of Russia - there the army team should already begin to win.
- You left CSKA because of the Brazilian pair of forwards, which did not allow you to play at the base?
- Yes, where are the Brazilians! I moved to Hamburg because I felt a favor. After all, CSKA did not sell me anywhere: it was Hamburg that wanted to buy a striker and drew attention to me. In addition, my wife demanded that I move to another country. She was in seventh heaven when she found out about a proposal from Hamburg and asked me to accept it.
- Why did Gazzaev not put you as the basis? Maybe he underestimated you?
- There are no shortcomings in the coaching work of Gazzayev. Of course, I wanted to play at the base, but it didn’t always work out. I think it's not his fault. Probably, the Brazilians seemed to him more reliable and stronger than me. But a solution was found, and I ended up in Hamburg. Good luck, CSKA and Valery Georgievich!
Anton OTKIDACH
Sport Today thanks the press service of the Hamburg football club for helping organize the interview.