CSKA head coach Igor Nikitin summed up the game against the Avtomobilist and the entire Mayor's Cup.
– For us, a great tournament for our preparation. Only four games were scheduled for the preseason. Basically, we checked everyone and looked at the nearest reserve. Time for final pre-season preparations.
– Alexei Kudashov said it was crucial for him to test his team specifically against yours, to get a benchmark of their strengths and weaknesses. Is it flattering to hear that from the opposing coach?
– There were a lot of solid teams here, both on paper and in terms of their identity. Yes, we’re trying to build a team that sets the standard, but I don’t think we’re quite there yet. We are in the process. The main thing is that the boys buy into it too. It’s easy to name someone a leader, but it’s harder to lead by example. It's a daily grind; a daily standard to play up. We were lucky to play teams with different styles too, it’s great preparation for us.
