Dynamo Moscow coach Roman Sharonov answered journalists' questions at a press conference after the final match of the season with Baltika (2:1).
— Several key players were absent – Osipenko and Sergeev were booked, and Bitello was released. However, it felt like your team was in control of the game. Did you analyze your opponent that well?
— As for Bitello, he played several matches at risk of injury. So, we withdrew him early in the last game to avoid any risks and prepare him for this match. Ultimately, to avoid him being out for a long time, it was decided not to bring him to Kaliningrad. The same applies to Caceres, and Glebov was out with an injury.
As for the game itself, our players came out and showed team spirit. Baltika isn't easy to beat, because that's what makes them special. As for controlling the game, we knew how Baltika plays. We analyze each opponent and prepare for them. But, first and foremost, we focus on our own game.
— Which Dynamo players would you single out for special mention in this match?
— Football is a team sport. I'd say the team in Krasnodar left a lot of emotional energy behind. But today the guys showed that, despite everything, they remain a team. And I'm not just talking about the starting lineup. For example, Vanya Sergeev came off the bench and scored the winning goal in the home game against Krasnodar. Kostya Tyukavin reacted well to that penalty, although only he knows how he felt at that moment.
I'd single out the entire team, because a winning mentality and spirit aren't just words. Roland Aleksandrovich, Yuri Valentinovich, and I experienced this as players, and now we're trying to plant the seed within the team. Today we did what a mentally strong team should do. This is the foundation for future success that we need to maintain.
— Which parts of the match were the most nerve-wracking? It was clear you were nervous at the end.
— It's not that I was nervous. We just knew how Baltika plays — a lot of long passes and rebounds. We couldn't get low, because any rebound could lead to a goal. There wasn't any real anxiety; we just didn't want to give up the lead. I'd also like to mention the players who came on as substitutes and played quite well.
— Your arena always has a family atmosphere. Today, a lot of people came to the stands too.
— Yes, it's very important when fans come to the match and create the atmosphere and energy that helps the players. It's great that so many people come to our games. On behalf of the entire coaching staff, I want to say a big thank you to our fans who come to the stadium and support us.
— What can this roster, in peak form, expect next season?
— We know the players and we know how to balance the roster to make the team even stronger. Many players missed training camp and couldn't help us. In some positions, we weren't even able to rotate. In this regard, we have a clear understanding of what needs to be done to compete for the top spots. But football isn't built on a single squad — there's team spirit, and that's no less important than the team's composition.
