Marcel Licka: "I am confident in the players who will appear in the starting lineup today"

— Usually our first question concerns the mood for the game. But today you look at the composition, and first of all you want to ask about the composition. What about Lunev, Marichal, Chavez? 

— The problem is that Luis and Nico Marichal felt problems. We decided not to declare them for the game, so as not to take risks and not aggravate their injuries. Lunev felt pain in his shoulder during training on Wednesday, so he worked more individually with the goalkeeping coach.

We were a little tired because we had a difficult route from Rostov-on-Don. Bitello, for example, has been training only since Thursday, and I decided to put players who have worked out the weekly cycle one hundred percent and feel one hundred percent ready to play. I am confident in the players who will appear at the start today. And in the second half we will see how we can influence the game.

— Yegor Smelov is starting for the first time today. What task will he have on the field?

— Egor will be at the start for the first time, but he had a good training camp with us. We had an option with Dima Alexandrov. In general, all four young guys – Bokov, Alexandrov, Vitya Okishor and goalkeeper Kurban Rasulov – showed themselves well in the training process. We decided to include Yegor Smelov from the beginning today. I want him to succeed. So that he can play his football, calmly, freely, with a clear head, without thinking about mistakes.

— Konstantin Tyukavin is a very big loss. You have only Mauhub. Will you still be watching any free agents? How and by whom to strengthen in case, God forbid, something happens to the Mauhub?

— Yes, it's true, we lost the Bale for a long time. He won't be in the squad until the start of next season. We have El-Mehdi, but at the same time, let's not forget about Yaroslav Gladyshev. There is a young Bokov, who also showed himself well already in the winter in friendly games.

Maybe some free agent, but I was thinking more about players like Cordoba or Zabolotny, who can act well with their backs to someone else's goal, hold the ball well. The problem is that it is not known in what condition this or that free agent is now. Whether he trained or not. The championship will be fast, everything will be over in two months. Therefore, it is a difficult question, a difficult situation. We will look at the players we have at our disposal.

— Today is March 8th. Who is your main female support? How did you congratulate her?

— My female support is mom, wife, daughter. Mario and I sent flowers to my mother in Prague. And my wife and daughter support me every day.