Andrey Kirilenko: Great experience. To be honest, I was expecting a slightly more constrained game. Because the first game, the first coach, a renewed roster, many new faces, a pandemic with the inability to assemble a full hall – there are many very factors that should have been constraining. But I saw the constrained game literally only in the first two minutes, after which we got hotter, acted from a position of strength, pressed. There weren’t many stupid mistakes. They were, but not in large numbers, as happens in such a tense game. Here the game was under control. I really liked it. And it’s also nice to see young guys who have opportunities to improve. And we have a whole cohort of players who are 22 years old and younger. Slava Zaitsev and many guys left a very pleasant impression. Astapkovich made me happy, Toropov. The man recently played in the Super League, and now he made his debut for the national team. A dramatically strong step forward. If you make your debut in the national team, you should do it like this.
Is it a merit of the new head coach of the team, Zoran Lukic, that he managed to liberate the guys so much?
Andrey Kirilenko: First of all, this is the merit of the guys. But the coach’s task is undoubtedly to give the players motivation and understanding of what is happening on the court. I said that the team needs a new impulse, something new. And if you take this game as a kind of indicator, it worked out. We showed a slightly different game today. Although I am not deluded, this is only the beginning, we have a lot of flying. But even so, it is clear that there is a certain pattern of the game that we are trying to maintain.
Will the match with Iceland after such an extravaganza be psychologically more difficult?
Andrey Kirilenko: Maybe this match will not be more difficult tactically, but emotionally yes. Now there is a certain euphoria, a victory, now more players will drive up. Still, some Icelanders have good experience. And if you don’t immediately identify yourself with such teams, then problems may arise. It is very important to work from the first minutes.
The Russian national team played for the first time an official match in St. Petersburg. How would you rate the organization?
Andrey Kirilenko: Great organization. There are technical overlays, but everything went well. It is a pity that we cannot assemble a full hall. Up to 30 percent finished off for sure. But I would like to hold a full-fledged show so that the players communicate with the fans, come out to them. But we all understand that we are living in an unprecedented time. What to do.
As for the players who can still strengthen the national team. Maybe you know that Alexey Shved does not plan to return to the national team for an hour?
Andrey Kirilenko: The most correct way is to ask Alexey Shved. What I read in the press: he graduated in the national team.
Will you persuade him?
Andrey Kirilenko: For what if he’s finished? There are players who can help the national team in any condition. The same Monya, who misses the season, I would love to see in the national team with his experience. There are key grossing players that are always needed in a team. But over the past six years, I constantly come across the fact that we are used to running after the players of the national team. Undoubtedly, you need to work with them, help solve some of their personal problems. But it is impossible to persuade players to play for their national team. It should not be. The players themselves must carry a certain message: I am here, I am in the national team, we all play for the national team. It should come from the players. In this regard, I would like to give an example of a female team, which has clearly changed its mental approach. There are glimpses in men too. And today we saw it: we are a team, no matter what happens, there are no unnecessary disputes, sprays. This is very important for any team when you have a philosophy, an ideology – we play for our country, for our fans, relatives and friends. I wish there was such a basic story inside.
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