The hockey player at first was capricious. Leaving the arrivals hall with his wife and child, with a baby bottle for drinking in his hands, he refused to speak with reporters.
“Let's go tomorrow,” he asked. - Or the day after tomorrow.
Of course, no one listened to him - it was not for nothing that they stood and watched over from early morning. And in the end, Ilya gave up, satisfying the curiosity of all those present.
- You were not offended that the coach was considering whether to invite you to the team?
- No, it was not. I'm glad that I arrived and I will play for the national team.
“Were you ready to wait for the call as much as you like?”
“Not that much.” But I was invited to speak, I am very happy about it. I am always pleased that they call me to play for the national team.
“But you could have gone to Hawaii or somewhere else.”
“Then I would have decided.” I would talk to my wife and daughter.
- Vyacheslav Bykov calls you an extraordinary person. Are you ready to sacrifice your originality for the sake of the team?
- I am one hundred percent mentally prepared. I have enough emotions. We have a good team.
- You supported the form?
- I support the form. You know how much I carry with me! There is not even enough space in the bags.
- A sports uniform?
- Yes of course.
- It is known that you had problems with the former coaching staff. Have you talked to new coaches?
- Now in Russian hockey a new leadership. I think that everything will turn out well.
- You can’t be late for Novogorsk.
- Thanks for the advice.
- What do you know about coach Vyacheslav Bykov?
- He played a lot in Europe. This year he proved at CSKA that he can be not only a good hockey player, but also an excellent coach.
“Will you have a problem with him?”
“You know, I just flew in, and you are already talking about some problems.”
- So it’s just that you constantly have some kind of problems.
- No, now everything is fine. I slept the whole flight, there were no problems along the way. I think that there will be no further.
- Do you know the composition of the Russian team?
- Not yet. Today I will come to the game and find out.
- Did you talk with Vyacheslav Bykov about your role in the team?
- Not yet. I think that I will meet with him in the near future.
- Didn’t he call you to America, but Sergey Nemchinov?
“They both called me.” But when the bell rang, I was already asleep. In the morning I called back.
- And when did you call yesterday or the day before?
- About three days ago.
- And there was no thought not to call back? The season is over already.
- Too early.
“But at first you weren’t really counting.”
- The coach can be understood. There are a lot of candidates for the Russian team, we had to carefully weigh them. In addition, there was a whole group of hockey players who passed the Eurotour.
- Have you watched matches with Sweden? Any impressions left?
- I saw on the Internet only goals of Morozov and Mozyakin. No conclusions can be drawn on this plot. But my mother watched matches, says that the team is not bad.
- Who do you want to see the most from those whom you have not seen for a long time?
- I want to see my daughter when she wakes up. She is still in an incomprehensible frenzy.
- The team has seven players from the NHL. This is normal?
“Seven is not a bad number.” I think that everything will be successful.
- Does it bother you that the team does not have a goalkeeper from the NHL?
- And what is the difference between the Russian goalkeeper and the goalkeeper from the NHL?
- It's stronger there.
- If a person is invited to the team, then he deserves it. I have no headache.
- It’s not a shame for a man who scored 42 goals that they’re not ringing right away, but thinking a little?
- Not. Correctly, Vyacheslav Bykov said that I am an extraordinary player and I need to select the same role.
- He said that you are an extraordinary person. And the personality is just the problem.
- I do not know this. Ask people what kind of person I am. I am not familiar with Bykov yet.
- And how was your conversation?
- He asked if I had a desire to help the team after the season. I answered yes.
- Immediately?
- I consulted with my family. I have a desire.
- Ready for psychological stress? After all, the tournament is taking place in Moscow. Your every step will be followed.
- The most important thing is to speak no worse than in St. Petersburg.
- Will it be easy?
- This is a minimum task.
- Are you ready to submit to common interests until May 13?
- So I always do this when I come to the team.
- Vladimir Krikunov says something else.
“Yes, he says a lot of things.” I do not want to return to that story.
“You have a racket behind you.” Are you going to play tennis?
“No, this is my wife, Nicole.” And I drag after her, like Fedorov after Kournikova.
Alexey Shevchenko