- What happened to the team? This is not Canadians, Czechs or Swedes. They won with difficulty.
- It's hard to tune in to such rivals. And in general, now there are no teams that would be a head weaker. Everyone knows how to play. Now anyone will catch and will bite. Especially if you give me a goal.
- And what did Vyacheslav Bykov tell you during the break?
- He said that we can’t act like that. Need to play ...
“... harder?”
“And that too.” He was right, I think.
- And what happened to the team when they led 2-0?
- We probably relaxed.
- Given that four NHL players will be added to the team, will all the team's problems be resolved?
- I think that everything will be fine. All the guys are extra-class players. They would help any team.
- Have you been looking for mutual understanding with Kaygorodov and Ovechkin for a long time?
- Not. But we are still getting used to it. This is just the first match. Training, of course, is a completely different matter. Especially on this ice.
- You said that the ice is normal.
- Yes, normal. But we need to get used to the site, to the rules.
- Not upset that the audience did not come to see you? And in the game pauses it was somehow sad without music.
- Used to it already. This is not the first time we have played a friendly match for the national team. At such meetings there are always few people. But our goal now is not to collect full houses, but to prepare for the World Cup. Lack of fans is not a factor to pay attention to.
- When was the last time they took a double for the national team?
- I do not remember.
- Are you satisfied with your game?
- There was a lot of confusion. Well, that bounced, won. Nevertheless, for the first game this is normal.
- A lot of one game in order to prepare for the tournament?
- Probably. But these are quite normal conditions. We have enough training, so we will approach the championship in great shape.
- It turns out that you will have to play during the tournament.
“We are not used to it.” It always has been. Do not forget that the team has a very good schedule.
Alexey Shevchenko