The head coach of CSKA summed up the results of the CSKA derby in St. Petersburg.
— Our first period today is hardly a game. The beginning didn't go well, everything was getting out of hand. There was no concentration, we conceded unnecessary goals. We will find the reasons and analyze them. I think it was a good test for us. The game didn't work out – it will be a lesson, we must draw conclusions We're just getting through a little bit, and tomorrow is another day, we'll set for the next game. Congrats to the opponent on the victory, CSKA is a fast mobile team, we did not expect anything else from it. The guys are well aware that the intensity of the game should be much higher, especially against an opponent like CSKA.
— How confused were your plans by the puck in the first line change after the first throw?
— Our team has experience that allows us to forget such goals and mistakes. We have an experienced team with character, but no matter how banal it may sound, today's first period was not ours.
— You must have analyzed the last CSKA games — the opponent had 5 defeats in a row playing away. How much different did the team take the ice today?
— Today we saw the team we had always known, which had always played exactly like that against us. We didn't look at how many and what kind of defeats there were, we had been preparing as usual, with an understanding of what the match would be like today. Our expectations were delivered, but, unfortunately, we failed to start the match with proper concentration. After four goals, it was difficult to fix anything, but I think that in the second period the guys managed to show character and find the anchor points of the game, show a sort of a skill. Our two goals were a good help in trying to continue playing like this. We built a lot of momenta, yet didn't score in the power play. 5:3 is a completely different score. 7 seconds before the break, Sergey Plotnikov ran out, made a good shot — the goalkeeper played great. It could have been 5-4, and the third period would have promised to be much more interesting, but, unfortunately, these two goals were not scored. No matches can start like that and give such an advantage to such a good opponent.
— There were very few shots from your side in the first period. Is this also due to a loss of concentration?
— You can say two or three words in this connection, but it won't change anything now. I want to thank my guys for their character, after all, the second and third periods were different. The game lasts 60 minutes, so you have to play and give yourself all three periods, work for each other, and the result will be completely different.
— The CSKA derby is always a super-principled confrontation, but today it was not noticeable in the CSKA's actions, especially at the beginning of the game. What is the reason for such a team-wide "underadjustment"?
— I have already answered this question, it is difficult to add anything else. We have already discussed certain reasons with the guys, tomorrow we will hold some more technical events. Now, according to the first feelings and emotions, we can say that this was not our evening, not our first period. Such a start of a match in a serious and important game is not like our usual game. This match promised to be fast, intense, bright, with an abundance of momenta, and at times both teams showed exactly what I've said. But, unfortunately, our team was out of business due to a weak start.
— What is the reason for the decrease in playing time of two leaders — Nesterov, Slepyshev?
— Anton Slepyshev has an injury, we understood that young defenders would play in the match with Spartak.
— You have already missed goals first for five matches. From the outside, it seems that something is wrong...
— Keep off bad luck. Missing goals first is not a good trend. I can comment like this: the middle of the season is close, but we still have a lot of good matches ahead, I have no doubt about that. We have a good strong team. And what you are asking about are technical issues, they should not be understandable for the community. The way we work and the things we do are our decisions and conclusions. Everything is OK with us.
— I have a question about Aleksandr Sharychenkov. After a fairly good playoff for Salavat Yulaev last year, he came to CSKA and now he rarely plays. Today he came on the ice in such a difficult match and, as it seemed to be, and played very well. How would you rate his game?
— Sasha took the ice in a difficult situation, nevertheless, he played quite reliably. We planned to put him in the next game, but today, as luck would have it, he came to us a little ahead of schedule and helped us to restrain the opponent's impulse. He had had an injury, it was healed, then he worked hard in terms of gaining physical fitness, now he has received game practice. We are optimistic about his future, so I think you will see Aleksandr between the pipes in the next match.
— Darren Dietz scored a lot of points in Barys, even the forwards were envious. Why did his role change in CSKA?
— It has not changed, the role he played in Barys has just been added to the one that we want him to see in CSKA. He was a very good attacking defender, having the experience of foreign partners in Barys, but CSKA defenders should be, first and foremost, defenders. He has accepted the role and is coping with it. Darren plays reliably in defense, but he has not forgotten his leadership qualities in attack either. A two-sided game is normal for defenders playing in CSKA.
