Spartak beat Thun in the first match of the Europa League with a score of 3: 2. The head coach of Spartak Oleg Kononov called the victory a difficult one and said that he wanted to achieve further progress for his wards.
“The victory was not easy, by the score it can be seen. We assumed that Thun would play just such a football that we saw in the end when there were many attacks from the flank. In the first half, we managed to neutralize and score important goals. In the second, we missed, but still fought to the end and achieved victory. Everything will be decided in the second match. The team is being built, new players are entering, two more will appear in the championship of Russia. As for the game, then, of course, we would like to progress in the future, ”the Championship mentor quotes.
The specialist also explained in detail why at the beginning of the second half the team conceded two goals in seven minutes and who was supposed to hit the penalty spot instead of Andre Schürrle, who did not realize his chance.
“Andre has recently arrived and is not as ready as we would like. Plus, he had not played synthetics for a long time, we wanted to keep it. But a substitution in the 60th minute was planned. We have a penalty shooter - this is George Jikia. Apparently, he decided to give Schurrle an opportunity to break through. As for the goals conceded, the hosts had a good game in these minutes. They were very persistent, pressed and acted well, because Swiss football is very strong and should not be underestimated. We managed to restrain attacks in the first half. In the second - for some time not, ”said Kononov.
In the end, he spoke about the trust on the part of Spartak owner Leonid Fedun and called the adaptation of newcomers the first priority that the team should fulfill.
“We have a credit of trust. The fact that the club owner went to the guys, he does so not only after victories. Also, after losing, he can come to the locker room and say that we deserve it. There is always a load on the coach, but the main thing is that we won and can prepare for the matches of the Russian championship. There are problems. But the main thing is to adapt beginners, after that we will specifically work on the game. Now there are already some shifts, but this is not enough. We will continue to work, ”Kononov promised.
Tuna head coach Mark Schneider is confident that his team still has a chance to advance to the next round of the Europa League. According to him, several errors of his charges led to the defeat in the first game.
“We had to win today. I think that the outcome of the confrontation is not resolved. With the support of our fans, we will try to win in Moscow. The team spent the first half well, but took little risk. In the second, we played better. I am disappointed with several individual mistakes that predetermined the outcome of the match. We gave these moments to Spartak. I think that between him and “Tun” there is not much difference in class. Perhaps individually the Spartacists are stronger. But if my team in Moscow plays together, then everything is possible, ”said Schneider TASS.
To win, “Spartak” was largely helped by the double of Zelimkhan Bakaev. The 23-year-old player spoke about goals scored and interaction with team rookie Andre Schürrle.
“In the episode with the first goal, I did not immediately decide to hit, at first I thought of giving a pass. But it turned out that no one covered, decided to hit. We train it, well, that’s over. Schurrle is a great master. We don’t need mutual understanding, we just need to run and open correctly. This happened, he put it in his leg, thanks to him, ”said the midfielder.
Bakayev noted that the team will try not to repeat the situation that occurred at the beginning of the second half, when the rivals won two goals in seven minutes.
“We tuned in to play carefully, but it happens. We will work so that this does not happen again. They understood that the opponent would go forward. We work, we can play much better. New players come, coaches help, we have everything ahead. I did not think about the first goal for Spartak, as the load did not hang. This is not the beginning of a new path, it was at the start of the season. I hope this path leads us to the top, ”the player of Spartak added.
Schurrle himself after the match did not comment on the unrealized penalty, but was pleased with his debut assists in the new team.
Spartak won a great victory today. I am glad that I made the first scoring pass for the red and white. See you on Sunday, ”the German footballer wrote on Instagram.
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Posted by Andre Schürrle (@andreschuerrle) Aug 8, 2019 at 1:13 PDT
Another Spartak rookie Guus Til did not take part in the match, but commented on the victory of his team in the Europa League.
“The first half was good. As for the second, then you can’t miss two goals in ten minutes, of course, you need to work on this. There is a handicap, a draw suits us at home. We will fight further. I’m upset that I could not play. On Sunday, in a match with Akhmat I can enter the field, so I am preparing for the upcoming match. Ready to play, I feel good, but the coach will decide. I’m trying to adapt as quickly as possible, I’m learning the Russian language, ”the Dutchman“ Match TV ”said.