Roberto Fernandez: "No matter how, but we definitely have to beat Orenburg"

– During the international break, the team played a friendly match with Tver. How useful was this sparring?

– We had very intensive training sessions, and, of course, it was important to hold such a friendly match, in which we confidently won. It definitely helped us in preparing for the continuation of the season.

– Did you follow the friendly matches of the national team of Paraguay and Juan Caceres, who also scored an assist there?

– Yes, of course, I always follow the games of our national team. Juan played really well in the second match against Morocco. I am very happy for him.

– Paraguay qualified for the World Cup for the first time in a long time. How important is this achievement for the country? How far can the team go there?

– We suffered for a long time because of non-participation in the World Cup, because from the late 90s to the early 2010s, the team was consistently selected for it and accustomed the fans to it. It's great that we're back, and I hope that we can at least get out of the group, and then try to go as far as possible.

– You recently played your hundredth match for Dynamo. What does this serious figure mean to you?

– I am very proud that I was able to play one hundred matches for such a great team. I think I could have even done it earlier, but that's okay – I'll continue to try to play as many matches as possible for Dynamo.

– In the offseason, David Ricardo was added to the center of defense. Is increased competition a plus for everyone?

– Yes, when he arrived, the competition in the center of defense became very big. This is a very important moment for us, because only in competition can we grow.

– The coaching staff also includes two excellent defenders in the past – Roman Sharonov and Yuri Zhirkov. How much does their experience help you?

– They really help a lot during matches, and especially in training. They pay attention to different points, constantly talk to defenders and give valuable advice.

– What would you say in general about the start of Dynamo this year? What is the mood of the team right now?

– The atmosphere in the team is good. We had a great start to the year, then two defeats happened, but we don't lose heart, we give our best in every training session to improve the quality of our game and successfully finish the season.

– One of the highlights of the last match with Zenit was your "foul", after which Alexander Sobolev fell dramatically in the penalty area. What do you think about such episodes?

– Everyone saw what he did – it was just ridiculous. It is no coincidence that this moment has become a real meme. I don't understand how the referee could have blown a foul in this episode. But we are all human, we can all make mistakes.

– Ahead of the match with Orenburg, which is fighting for survival. Is such an opponent doubly dangerous?

– Yes, of course, it is always very difficult to play against teams that are fighting for survival. Plus, there is pressure from playing at home in front of our fans. No matter how, but we definitely have to win this match and continue moving forward.

– Will thoughts about the most important cup game with Krasnodar, which will take place after it, distract you?

– Of course, you need to be fully focused on the upcoming game, but it's hard not to think about the match with Krasnodar, which will still be much more important. But if we want to grow as a team, we must be able to cope with such moments.

– You scored one of your first goals in Russia just for Orenburg after a corner kick. This year the team scores a lot from the standards – is it a coincidence or the fruits of long work on them?

– This is a very important part of football, and we work a lot on drawing standard positions in training. It's good that we manage to put all this into practice. We will try to continue in the same spirit.

– You yourself have not been different for quite some time, are you worried about this?

– Yes, I haven't scored in a long time, so I really want to fix it in the near future. I hope it will be possible to please the fans.