Andrei Tikhonov started strongly in Krasnoyarsk. Two wins in three games and a minimal loss against Akron. And in Roshchino he not only beat his old friend Sergei Kiryakov and his Leninggradets, but he also did it with great confidence: Enisey scored four goals. This season his rival has only conceded that amount once: against Tyumen.
After the match, Tikhonov gave an exclusive interview to the “Championship” program, where he said:
when Enisey adapts to the coach’s demands; about the goals of this season and prospects for the future; whether the RFU should renew Karpin’s contract and evaluate his work in friendly matches; What will happen at Spartak with Abascal and without Quincy Promes.
— Your team has two wins in three games. Would you say that players are already accepting your requirements and playing style? – It’s too soon to say that. There are nuances of work. So not everyone fully accepts them yet. It is difficult to show solid and strong football right away, because in winter some players left and were replaced by others. There is a certain lack of teamwork. Of course, you always want to show football, like in the second half against Leningradts. But this is impossible. We play for the opponent and fight for points.
For example, Egor Ivanov last year played higher and created more dangerous chances up front. Oleg Lanin cleaned up after him. Plus there was Glushkov. There was some kind of pretension. Both left the club in the winter. We lost Masalitin to injury. If we had more funding, we could replace them. But at the moment this is not the case. We take footballers without teams. As a result, now Ivanov himself plays deeper and that same sharpness has diminished somewhat.
Part of our strike group is new. Mazurin, Tikhonov – they were not in the team before. That’s why it takes time.
Andrey Tikhonov with Yenisei players
Photo: vk.com/fcenisey
— You have an interesting situation: six points from the relegation zone and 10 from the top four. Is it still possible for Yenisei to hold on to something at the top? — We play and we will play to win every game. We recently lost to Akron, in fact, five minutes into the first half. Couldn’t we have lost? They could. But this end of the first half affected us in the second. We also had moments there. However, they lost by a minimal score. Although psychologically for both the team and the fans, of course, it would be better to play a draw.
— But it is unlikely that he was immediately tasked with competing for the play-off zone. – Any self-respecting coach and footballer does not want to fight at the bottom of the table. Everyone strives to get up and win. We are one of those. We want to overcome and hold on to those who flee from us. I repeat: it is very difficult when some of the players who were leaders leave. Someone is hurt. You can’t improve and you are four points away from the relegation zone. I couldn’t come and say that now we will catch up with Khimki, Akron and Dynamo Makhachkala. We can only try to do this.
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—How has the Yenisei changed during your absence? —The city has changed. For the best. I hope and want to believe that football will also change for the better. And there will be other tasks. Is there any perspective for this? Of course. Much depends on leadership. If there is a task, financing, then we will go towards it.
– You have a good open stadium. Will you play there? — In spring, when it is warmer, matches are planned to be held there. We have already been training for three days, especially outdoors, because we have a double trip. We stayed in St. Petersburg and then headed to Naberezhnye Chelny. We worked outdoors, but either there was a snowstorm or it was three degrees. It is difficult to play and train in these conditions. It’s not easy for fans either. When it gets warmer, we will naturally go out.
— He speaks very carefully about his son Denis, who scored a double in the match against Leningrad. Are you afraid of cursing him? — I understand if a person played for several years at this level. And when there are only three games left… I don’t want to say too much. He works, he tries, the main thing is to benefit the team. It was the Leningrad team that won. I can give it a rating of four plus. Although no, four. The first half was not the best.
Denis Tikhonov
Photo: vk.com/fcenisey
— There are still matches for the Russian team ahead. And now the media is discussing the story of Karpin’s future. His contract is until summer. How do you see the end of this story? — If Karpin and the RFU understand each other perfectly and Valery Georgievich himself wants to work, why not continue cooperation? Now we will see the Russian team with Serbia and Paraguay. If there is good, quality football and the federation is satisfied with the result and the attitude of the players towards the coach, then we must continue working. Why invent a bicycle? But perhaps Karpin himself doesn’t want to do it. I don’t know. Then maybe you need to change the system and not work with a part-time worker. But if I were a lot of people, I would stay behind Karpin: I would let the man work.
—Will anything depend on the results of the next matches regarding your future? – I don’t know how correct it is to ask our team for the result. We are not preparing for official competitions. The Serbs are bringing the base and so are we. Now we will see our real level against the background of solid rivals. I wouldn’t say I expect progress. I expect high-quality football and a correct attitude from the players towards the national team. I would like to expect adequate returns from players, as support will surely be strong.
Valery Karpin in the Russian national team
Photo: Dmitry Golubovich, “Championship”
— Zenit took the lead in the RPL. Does this mean that now no one will catch up with him? – I saw the first half against Dynamo; Then it was night in Krasnoyarsk. Zenit is very powerful. A great first half, but in the second we played according to the results. I am not sure that the level of football among our competitors is now comparable to that of Zenit. Yes, a team can make mistakes and stumble. But this is only possible once. Dynamo arrived, a great team, Lichka works very well. Look at the first half though. Not even the result, but the match itself. Zenit’s fundamental superiority is unconditional at the moment.
— I can’t help but ask about Spartak. Everyone expected Abascal to resign, but he stayed. What will happen next? “It’s important to talk about what’s going on inside.” It’s not very simple there. And the relationships in the team, and everything else. I don’t think management is happy with what’s happening. After all, some fans turn their backs on him. I cannot advise or say what is right and what is wrong. But when there are no results and such relationships within the team, something needs to be changed.
In the RPL there is an anti-registration of coach resignations:
The RPL has a unique situation. It has been 10 years since there have been so many resignations of coaches
– Now it seems that Quincy Promes will not be in Spartak. “Quincy is a big loss.” But he himself is to blame. Fleeing the scene of the accident… I don’t think that the Spartak management did not know the possible consequences. Maybe if it weren’t for this accident, he would be in the field now. In football terms, this is a big loss. But the law is the law.
-And the last thing: Will Abascal finish working until the end of the season? —It is difficult for me to give a prognosis. But with these results I don’t rule out changing coaches before the end of the season.
