The acting head coach of Dynamo, Rolan Gusev, spoke about the preparations for the match with Spartak and recalled memorable moments from the derby in his career.
— How was your first week as acting head coach of the RPL club?
— The week went well, I am satisfied with the work that the team has done. Of course, there are worries, but well done to the guys, they work well, and there are no complaints about them.
— The coaching staff has become noticeably smaller, how did you cope with the increased amount of work?
— There is enough work for everyone. I would like to say a huge thank you to Sergey Parshivlyuk, Dmitry Izotov, Evgeny Stukalov, Ivan Karandashov, Alexey Radevich and Andrey Panov. The guys are working 24 to 7, tirelessly, helping one hundred percent. It would be very difficult without them.
— The match with Krylia Sovetov inspired optimism in the fans for a good end to the season. Can we say that the team played close to perfect, given the half of the game in the minority?
— Close to the ideal is a big word, but as for dedication, the guys gave their all. Despite the fact that the game changed after we were outnumbered, the guys did their job very professionally.
— In the absence of Fabian Balbuena, you entrusted the captain's armband to Andrei Lunev. Why did you choose him?
— Daniil Fomin missed this match, so we had to choose another player. I think Andrei is a very charismatic figure, a leader by nature, both at home and on the field. I had no doubts about his candidacy.
— Nicolas Ngamaleu played his best match this spring. Was there some kind of conversation with him?
— Yes, we talked to Moumi. I know his qualities well, how he can play. The main thing for him is to want to play, and if he gives his best, then he is a very strong football player.
— In the spring part of the championship, Yaroslav Gladyshev, who is the top scorer and assistant of the league in this segment, revealed himself in a new way. How did you manage to achieve such progress?
— First of all at the expense of his work. He works to the maximum both in training and in games. Hence such results.
— In the match with Krylia, the team committed only 5 violations, and also in the minority – is this the game discipline that you talked about the importance of?
— This is both game discipline and the right location on the field. Everyone played in their positions, when it was necessary made tackles and made it right. I think this is the reason for such a small number of violations.
— What, in addition to discipline, will be of key importance in Sunday's match with Spartak, with which things have not been going well lately?
— First of all, it is organization and compactness. It is very important not to give space to this team.
— The red card of Jorge Carrascal was canceled by the Control and Disciplinary Commission. Were you hoping for such an outcome?
— Yes, we hoped, because we have reviewed this moment many times. We talked to Jorge – even if the card was canceled, and there was no touch (with the face), I still wouldn't like to see such episodes.
— You have a rich history of participating in the derby with Spartak as a player, you scored many important goals. Can you single out one of them?
— Perhaps I will highlight my first goal against Spartak in a Dynamo T-shirt in 1999, when we played 2-2 at Luzhniki. I remember this goal very well. And in CSKA I haven't lost a single derby in six years.
— Is Spartak the most important rival for you?
— Of course, the most principled, the most unloved. Here you can choose different epithets. After all, all this has been instilled in us since childhood.
— Do you think the new generation of players has changed their attitude to the concept of derby, which can now be 4-5 per season?
— Our players are well aware of what kind of team this is and know their history. I think this is also a big irritant for them and one of the most important rivals. Foreigners also know the significance of these matches. I think that this does not change from generation to generation. The key in these games is the attitude, which should be beyond limits.
— You have successfully worked with young players in CSKA and the Russian national team. Can we expect that young Dynamo players will get more playing time in the remaining matches?
— We have good young players, and we count on them, but they need to work and prove themselves. And they will receive playing time.
— You still own the Dynamo record for assists per season in the XXI century. Bitello is now two assists behind him, will he catch up in three rounds?
— God forbid, I will only be happy!
— In addition to Bitello, Dynamo has a large group of players from Spanish-speaking countries. How do you communicate with them?
— I have some set of words, but not that I speak fluent Spanish. Sergey Parshivlyuk helps me with this.
