Andrey Lunev: "I spent my whole childhood in Luzhniki and supported Dynamo hockey"

— Historically, Dynamo has a special attitude towards goalkeepers. And it so happened that you play under the number of Lev Yashin. Does it somehow put pressure on you mentally? How do you feel about this?

— It's a responsibility and an honor. Morally, there is absolutely no pressure at all. Just need to match. And to match, you need to work well.

— Are there any facts and stories about Lev Yashin that impress you the most?

— He is the greatest man, the greatest athlete and an example for many. After one World Cup, which was not shown on TV, he was severely criticized in the country, they pinned everything on him. It was said that he was to blame for all the defeats and the like. And a year after that, he received the Golden Ball. Not every athlete is capable of this. This is the real greatness.

— Do you think this number makes your position more prestigious than in other clubs?

— Probably, the goalkeeper in the Dynamo team is a special position. So maybe yes. On the other hand, no matter which team you play in, you have to match and show your best qualities everywhere.

— You managed not only to play on the field, but also to star in a video about Yashin dedicated to his 95th birthday. Tell me a little about this experience. Were you comfortable?

— Yes, quite. The film crew and the people at the recording studio were professional and decent, created an uninhibited atmosphere when Andryushka, our Belarusian colleague, and I were shouting. In principle, everything was fine. You saw it, didn't you?

— I saw it. It's just that I was forced to sing once, and I know what it's like. I was as uncomfortable and ashamed of what I was doing as possible. But you did a great job. Was there any sense of insecurity?

— We were given to listen to the performance of previous guests who performed in the same way. And it relaxed us a little. I don't think we could have done any worse.

— Everything is learned in comparison.

— Of course.

— There was a time when you actively conducted social networks, and football fans really liked it. But now things seem to be a little different. Would you like to resume your Internet career?

— I don't have any social networks anymore. And I don't want to, because I already have experience. I will not say that it is negative or positive. It was just there, that's all. I'm not interested, to be honest.

— In one of the interviews you said that you were not eager to play against a team of media football players. And this greatly hurt one of the main bosses of media football, Nikolai Osipov, who reduced everything to your dislike of Russia. How do you feel about his reaction?

— This is idiocy!

— Why don't you want to play against them?

— Because it's not normal. Let them play with their own kind. And I have already said this several times. I'm not saying anything bad about those who do all this, because I have friends who play there. And there are quite qualified specialists working there, quite qualified football players playing, so it's a pretty good level, although I don't really follow – only a friend. But it's not normal for the Russian national team to play against a team from media football.

— Does the Russian national team not need PR?

— I think it can be popularized in other ways. At a certain stage, these may be considerably weak national teams, but at the same time they are still national teams, which contain the best football players of these countries. This is obvious, it seems to me.

— Okay, your position is clear.

— It is categorical. And it can't change in any way. Under no circumstances!

— The media really like to take your quotes. At the end of last year, your words were replicated that women should be engaged in home activities. You said this in response to a question about the difference in salaries in men's and women's football. After that, they almost started accusing you of sexism. What did you have in mind? Can you tell me your position in more detail now?

— Yes, it's easy. The phrase that "let them stand and cook borscht" is, of course, a joke. I have nothing against women doing what they love. Let it be a sport, some socially important professions, please. Whatever they like.

There was a question about salaries. And, to be honest, it's not clear to me again: it seems to be professional journalists, but they ask such questions, to which the answer is obvious. It should not be asked or voiced at all, because you are showing your incompetence. If you look at what finances there are in men's and women's football, it won't be quite adequate to ask such a question. Football, in principle, is also a business – for managers, for sponsors. And when women's football at least comes close to men's in this aspect, then it will be a rational question. At this stage, this is idiocy.

— Returning from the media to the field, you always seem extremely focused during the games. How are things going with this in your life? Can you call yourself the same serious and focused person, or do you let yourself relax a little off the field?

— It's hard to say. Regarding some situations, I'm focused, regarding others, maybe less focused, where I should have been more concentrated. From the outside it is more clear.

— Is there something that can make you lose your temper?

— Well, yes, there is, of course.

— In addition to the media and questions from journalists.

— Stupidity, to be honest, often pisses me off. Although I would not say about myself that I am somehow very wise or smart, but there are some banal things that obviously need to be understood.

— The team has been on a training camp for the second month already. How do you like working with Marcel Licka?

— It's fine. Everything is in working mode. We train, we puff.

— Are there any differences in his work that may have surprised you?

— In principle no. I probably won't be surprised by anything anymore. Everything is fine, everything is in working mode, professionally and with high quality. They say don't count your chickens before they're hatched – in our case it's the end of spring, then we will evaluate all our work and the work of the coaching staff.

— At the moment you are one of the most experienced players in the team. What can you say about the youth players of the team?

— Quite good guys. First of all, in terms of sports characteristics – they have very good data and, in principle, the prospects are crazy. It all depends on them. How they will relate to their profession, to themselves, and their football career will depend on it.

— In football, especially among young boys, when opportunities, popularity and big salaries appear, they start to show off. Are there such people in the team?

— I think this is a natural process. I went through it myself in my youth.

— And how did you cope with this?

— I couldn't cope in any way, just then I was nailed from above, and I myself came to certain conclusions. Probably, until you go through it yourself, all the advice of experienced people, relatives, coaches will somehow fly by. Until you feel it for yourself.

— In general, do senior teammates have to knock a little on the head with a hammer to lower the guys to the ground?

— In some moments, yes, of course. At the same time, there is a coach who has certain requirements. If you do not meet his requirements, you will lose your place in the squad. If you lose your place in the squad, you will be out of sight. You'll be out of sight for a year or two – went on.

— There are no irreplaceable, you mean?

— Of course.

— You are a native Muscovite, but you spent ten years outside the capital before joining Dynamo. With what feelings did you return to your hometown?

— Yes, that's right. There was a slight thrill, everything was interesting. Moscow has certainly become prettier. I still can't get used to some things.

— Do you have a favorite place in Moscow?

— Luzhniki. I spent my whole childhood there.

— Is Moscow your favorite city, or are there competitors?

— To be honest, I really liked it in St. Petersburg. When I first arrived there, I liked it even more than Moscow. But I don't really like the way Peter is developing now. Moscow is developing better, although it is clear that the possibilities are different. But at the same time it's cool in St. Petersburg. This is if we are talking about Russia.

— Yes, about Russia, but the question now will be about Germany. You played there recently. Tell me, how was it in everyday terms? Let me explain: I lived in Canada for three years, and it was difficult for me there. How are you doing abroad?

— Just a correction – I didn't play, but I was. Honestly, I really liked the rhythm of life there. There are small cities there and, accordingly, fewer people, less traffic jams, fuss. People value their time. On weekends it's generally gorgeous – everyone is on bicycles, getting high, picnics on the Rhine are top! Plus, we lived near the border with Holland, and there were a lot of children's parks right on the border. An hour and you're there, two more hours and you're in Amsterdam. Cool!

— You said that in Germany you faced excessive bureaucracy. What was it manifested in?

—Yeah." Everything is via mail, you have to come, send, pick up, then personally sign, and by a certain time. We had to constantly negotiate, that is, not in the same way as we have. It's easier for us in this regard – I submitted an application and received everything remotely. There is also a need for personal presence, while you need to thoroughly go through each dotted line.

— After Bayer, you played in Azerbaijan. How do you like this experience?

— Super. It was cool in terms of everything. Our season turned out to be quite successful – we performed successfully in European competitions and in the local championship. We won both the championship and the Azerbaijan Cup. So let's say, it turned out to declare itself, but they almost didn't put the squeeze on, they could have done even better.

— When you played for Bayer, you visited the Washington Capitals match during your tour of the USA and talked with Russian hockey players.

— Yes, there was a case. I managed to talk to both Ovechkin and Kuznetsov. Nice guys.

— Did Sasha tell you how he played for Dynamo?

— No, we had a short chat once, because it was late enough, and they immediately jumped on the bus. We literally talked for 5-10 minutes, exchanged phones, I handed over a T-shirt as a keepsake, they promised a stick, but I never contacted the manager, it was my own fault. I'm not a collector, of course, but it would be fun to get their jersey.

— Do you think Ovechkin will break Gretzky's record this season?

— As it is going now, I think so. Although initially I was betting on next season, but now he scores in every game.

— Are you really interested in hockey?

— Yeah. More Russian hockey than American. This is not pathos and not deception. Dynamo used to play in Luzhniki, and I often went there, so I've been a Dynamo fan since childhood. I remember how the championship bus went there. Plus, I have a friend who also follows hockey, but he is from Omsk, so we have such battles at the expense of Avangard and Dynamo. Dynamo is the champion, we will cheer to win the Gagarin Cup for the third time this year.

— Your son Denis will soon be six years old. Do you want your son to follow in your footsteps?

— He's already trying. Of course, I would like that, but he will decide for himself. I will not insist, because I want him to grow up, most importantly, healthy and become a good person. In terms of choice, I can only direct, give him some options, but the choice will be his. Insist and force – in no case.

— Do you have any rituals before going on the field or during the game?

— Globally, no. I just have a habit of wearing boots with my left foot.

— By the way, I also wear skates with my left foot.

— I don't know why. Just on a whim, I don't even follow it. Sometimes, on the contrary, I somehow catch myself thinking that I haven't put it on yet, let me try it with the right one.

— So, superstition is not your thing?

— In my youth, maybe the coaches said something or I communicated with the guys about it. There were some moments there: not to give anyone your gloves for luck, something else. Nonsense in general, as for me. How does this affect how you catch the ball or play? Are you lucky or unlucky? Lucky comes to the one who is hard-working.

— Once in an interview you said: "I am a person who is not used to believing in miracles". What do you believe in then?

— In people. Yes, I'm often wrong, but it's okay. This is also an experience.

— Thank you very much, Andrey, for a wonderful conversation. I wish you and the whole team a lot of luck in the second half of the season.

— Thank you very much for the interview. We will try our best, we will wait for our fans at the stadium and, of course, we will try to fight for the trophy for them, win every game and delight with victories and a bright game.