Let's start by stating the fact: both in hockey and in football - the main competitions of the year were not successful for us.

For the reigning Olympic ice hockey champions in 2021, there could be no other goal than winning the gold in the world championship.

From the footballers - especially in light of the success of other teams that are not grandees - we expected at least a way out of the group.

Neither one nor the other happened: the Russian national hockey team lost the first match to the young Canadian national team, and the players lost in the decisive match to the Danes.

And of course, people's love instantly gave way to anger.

The exposure of systemic errors in the training of young hockey players and footballers began.

The leaders and coaches were sharply accused of incompetence - we have enough sofa experts with fans and a set of odorous substances in any area.

But hate and jealousy are background noise that is easy to turn off.

We must draw conclusions and move on, since scourging and self-flagellation will definitely not lead our athletes to a result.

Yesterday, during a direct line with the President of Russia, I had no doubt that he would be asked about the performance of our national teams.

Vladimir Putin knows how to send signals, and this is how he did it:

“Sport is sport.

There are triumphs and defeats in sports.

But the fact that our national hockey team did not distinguish itself, let alone the football team, is certainly a fact that cannot go unnoticed.

In such cases, nothing personal.

You just need to think about what was done positively by those people who were responsible for the work of the teams.

Apparently, together with them, we need to think about what needs to be changed now, including the personnel component.

Both in football and in hockey.

Move on without sprinkling ashes on your head. "

Vladimir Putin also said that, unlike judo and sambo, he is not a specialist in football and hockey.

But the president, by virtue of his experience, definitely understands management and personnel.

Obviously, he does not consider maintaining the status quo after the failures of our teams acceptable.

Therefore, there will be changes.

Of course, the system of training young athletes should always be improved.

We talked a lot about this at the Match TV panel session at the St. Petersburg Economic Forum.

No matter how many millions of young people our sports potential is, if effective mechanisms for its development are not found, it will be difficult for us to recruit players for national teams.

Nuggets like Alexander Golovin or Kirill Kaprizov are not translated in Russia.

It’s scary to even think about what results we will achieve if there are many more such nuggets and they start competing for getting into their national teams. 

Of course, the coaches of our teams should be among those who know all modern techniques, know how to lead athletes to key games and motivate them to show their best qualities. 

At the training camp of national teams, no one teaches athletes to play. A few days of work before qualifying games or an international tournament will not replace many years of practice in sports schools and clubs, or preparatory pre-season work. But it is the coach who is able to discern the potential of the players, assemble a truly strong team from them and help his team to give out the maximum possible at the right time. 

I am confident that the signal sent by the President will be heard and will stimulate energetic work at all levels of training of our athletes.

If we set ambitious goals, then we must make decisions that are ambitious and effective.

Our Supreme Sports Commander-in-Chief does not accept any other approach either in relation to himself or to any other leaders.

Everything that has happened has happened.

We cannot change history.

But we can write a new page, where there will be no place for disappointment.

The point of view of the author may not coincide with the position of the editorial board.