- I would like to congratulate the Swedish national team on a well-deserved victory. According to the results of two matches, she looked stronger, - said Vyacheslav Bykov. - As for today's match, we deliberately made changes in the lineup to enable hockey players who freed up after the final series in the Russian championship to get in shape through the game. Today we lacked movement and speed. Therefore, in most moments, we did not have time for an opponent who was imposing his game on us. And this also allowed the Swedes to create moments at our gates. Errors in defense led to the fact that we missed goals. But even though the opponent led in the long run, we tried to maintain organization in the game. And to some extent it was possible. Once again, I want to repeat that we lost today to an organized team that has been preparing for the world championship in four weeks. We will draw certain conclusions and will continue to work.
- Are there any changes in the team?
- After today's match, we thanked for the game, for participating in the preparation of several hockey players: Anton Bout, Anton Kuryanov and Evgeny Artyukhin. Perhaps during this weekend there will be more changes.
- Does it bother you that the Kazan trio did not look the best?
- It's hard to get in shape after a vacation and two or three workouts. But we specifically went for it so that they would join the team and work. We must build a team. In the near future we will form a team that will play at the World Cup.
- Alexander Radulov was released tonight. Will he be involved in the team? And why didn’t the NHL hockey players play today?
- As for our NHL guys, we made sure that they first prepare before joining the game. I would like to note that in some media it is written that the guys have problems with insurance - this is not true. We are grateful to our sponsors who designed everything. If we talk about Radulov, then we keep him on a note, like other hockey players. And we will decide over the weekend which of them can join the team.
- Are there any problems with the insurance of NHL players?
- Yes. We were assured that all issues were resolved. And the guys can take part in matches for the national team.
- Will they play against Austria?
- Maybe.
- Why did you decide to abandon Ilya Kovalchuk?
- Who told you that they refused?
“You.”
- When?
- Yesterday.
- You understood me wrong. If you do not understand something, then ask again. We did not refuse this player. Consider all candidates and then we make our choice. Kovalchuk remains a candidate. No need to write that we refused and bring it to the public.
- And if he flies away on vacation without waiting for the call?
- Nothing, will fly from vacation.
Alexey Shevchenko