Dynamo Moscow head coach Rolan Gusev answered journalists' questions after the match with CSKA (4:1).
— Two goalkeepers were missing from your squad. What's wrong with them?
— They have minor injuries. Lunev was playing with injections already in the second half against Spartak; they had an MRI and discovered the injury. And Leshchuk was kicking a ball in training yesterday and slightly pulled a muscle.
— You got a bonus early in the game in the form of an early goal and a numerical advantage, after which you played second fiddle for a while. Was that your team?
— It's not a bonus, but a credit, because we're working on set pieces. The sending-off is also a credit to the players. It's all deserved. We knew from the start that playing too openly against CSKA, opening up the zones and giving them space, would be, to put it mildly, unprofessional. We've studied their attackers well; they're great at diving into the half-spaces behind the defense. And if you give them space, they'll create problems for any team. It's not that we were playing second fiddle, it's just that we had specific tasks the team had to fulfill to prevent Glebov and Krugovoy from gaining space.
— The team scored 13 goals in three games after the break. Did you expect the team to perform like that?
— I saw how the team prepared and understood what they were capable of. We always hope for the best. And right now, it's shaping up to be a good player.
— After the third goal, Kurban Rasulov ran up to Roman Sharonov, received instructions, then returned to the field and immediately sat down. Was that a football trick, or was he really injured?
— No, he actually had a leg cramp.
— Nicolas Marichal not only scored good goals today, but also committed a lot of fouls, and he was booked in the first half. Did you ever think about replacing him?
— Nico is great; he's good at set pieces, and that's no coincidence. There were concerns, but in games like this, when a central defender is playing well, I didn't want to change him. Although I did have those thoughts during the break.
— What happened to Leon Zaydenzal?
— He has something wrong with his knee, we need to monitor it. Then again, the pitches are like this these days. We start playing in early March and finish at the end of May, when the pitches are perfect. We think we could start and finish a little later. If we could keep the pitches in good shape for another three weeks, they would be good.
— You've found a key to the team; you've changed the players' mentality. How difficult was that, and what helped you?
— We coach, but the credit goes primarily to the players. When you have such a strong roster of players, you know they can bring your ideas to life on the pitch. That's to their credit.
— Can you elaborate on the roles of Roman Sharonov and Yuri Zhirkov on your staff? What contribution have they made to your success?
— Roman Sergeyevich, Yuri Valentinovich, Lyosha Radevich, the goalkeeper coach, and the analysts have all made a huge contribution. They do a tremendous job. It would be difficult for me without them. I'm very grateful to them for working 24/7. Yes, it's tough; we don't see our families and practically live at the training camp.
— The team has had a great start to the spring. How can we prevent this confidence from turning into overconfidence?
— First of all, we haven't done anything yet that would cause overconfidence. We're simply improving our standings in the championship. It's clear that these players deserve much better. I don't think we're in danger of becoming a star.
