“Rostov’s game depends on Eremenko”: Nepomnyaschi about the match with Lokomotiv, Miranchukov’s progress and Shomurodov’s skill

- Did you expect before the start of the championship that before the eighth round Rostov would be higher than Lokomotiv in the standings?

- For me, at the start of the championship, the game of both Rostov and Lokomotiv was a pleasant surprise. This season, both teams are ready for great achievements and claim to be in the Champions League.

- Is the reason solely in the lighter Rostov calendar or problems with Lokomotiv?

- Of course, wards Valery Karpin was lucky with the schedule. But even so, they were defeated by Ufa. As for the railroad, there is a certain imbalance in their game, because the team acts better in attack than in defense. And this taking into account the fact that red-green has always been famous for its harmony in defense.

- Do you agree that Rostov is now showing the most attractive football in the RPL?

- Nice looking - no doubt, but about the most attractive in the league - I do not agree. I would remember about Krasnodar, which looks very nice, although it does not reach the level of last season’s own model. At times, CSKA acts in a beautiful manner, and you can remember about Lokomotiv. Unless it’s impossible to say exactly about the “Zenith”.

- Who would be put in first place?

- Krasnodar, although recent results do not allow praising the team. And this applies not only to the Champions League, but also to the RPL. But in the case of the "bulls" the problem is absolutely solvable.

- How?

- Over time, beginners will fit into the scheme, and everything will be in order. While they lack coherence, in addition, the game of the flank defenders is a little embarrassing - both in attack and in defense. Moreover, the current composition of Krasnodar has potential.

- In your opinion, the attacking game of Rostov is the merit of Karpin or of such skillful organizers of attacks as Roman Eremenko and Ivelin Popov?

Coaching is determined on the basis of two criteria: the result and progress of both the team as a whole and individual football players in particular. Today, all this is obvious, so you can safely call it the fruits of Karpin's work. Although the game "Rostov" and depends on Eremenko.

- Earlier, Karpin instilled in Rostov more closed football. Why did the mentor decide to switch to a more attacking model right now?

- This process began in the middle of last year’s championship. True, this transformation entailed several serious defeats and a loss of space at the top of the standings. And before the start of this season, Karpin himself announced a change of philosophy.

- What exactly pushes the coach to such reforms?

- Several factors must have this at once, one of which is the quality of the players. Here we again return to Eremenko and Popov, who determine the team’s game in attack. In addition, it is necessary to note the extreme defenders and central midfielders who are actively helping their partners ahead.

- At the moment, “Rostov” is one of the three most scoring teams and one of the seven most missing. What is the reason?

- It’s natural - if it arrived somewhere, then it disappeared somewhere. There is no necessary balance yet, but Rostov is on the right track. Although it’s too early to talk about the championship.

- Perhaps Karpin simply does not have enough qualified defenders to ensure this balance?

- Yes, there are no athletes at the national team level. But do not forget that before, “Rostov” played with three central defenders, and now acts with two. Adaptation takes time.

- Eremenko is one of the elite players of the league?

- At the moment, Eremenko is one of the best RPL midfielders.

- You believed that he would be able to perform so successfully after that story with drugs?

- Yes. I was sure that in two years he would not lose much. Firstly, he has no tendency to overweight, and secondly, it is clear that he realized his mistake and worked hard all this time. In addition, there is an example of Eduard Streltsov, who spent more than six years in prison, but was able to return.

- Streltsov’s example is rather unique ...

- Of course, but still I think that a two-year excommunication from football is okay. Therefore, I have no doubt that Alexander Kokorin and Pavel Mamaev will still play.

- Are you impressed by Eldor Shomurodov?

Undoubtedly. Shomurodov and Sobolev are the main discoveries of the start of the season in the RPL. I was surprised to find that Eldor has all the necessary qualities for an attacker: very fast, performs a large amount of work, is in motion for all 90 minutes, takes the ball well and plays with his head.

- Who else would be noted besides Shomurodov and Sobolev?

- This summer several high-quality foreign players came to Russia at once. In my opinion, this is precisely the reason for the density in the standings. In light of this, I don’t think it is right to be too critical of the failures of Russian clubs in European competitions.

- Why?

- Most likely, Spartak and Krasnodar will represent Russia in European competitions in the next season. This season, foreigners will pass the test of our difficult championship, get used to their teams, and next year these teams will be more competitive in the Champions League and Europa League.

- Speaking of Lokomotiv, in the first seven rounds he lost seven points. Isn't it a bit much for a silver medalist?

- The wards of Yuri Syomin must compete for getting into the Champions League, but there are questions about the chances of the championship. In my opinion, Lokomotiv is now at the stage of creating a team.

- Before the start of the season, Loko was considered the main competitor of Zenit in the fight for the championship. Quotations of railway workers did not fall?

- They will definitely fight for the top three, and as for gold, here we must separately dwell on the team of Sergei Semak. I do not think Zenit is a clear favorite in the fight for the championship. The game then appears and disappears. I don’t understand what these differences are connected with. Perhaps the reason lies in the lack of certainty with the composition.

- The loss of Sebastian Driussi and Malcolm became so fatal for Zenit?

- Oddly enough, but it is.

- In this round, Spartak will meet with Zenit. Don't you think that these injuries can help Oleg Kononov save a place on the coaching bridge?

I would not like to discuss the personnel issue. Now the red and white can not cope with the pressure. Why was it different in the days of Massimo Carrera? He was not afraid to yield. When excitement comes from the coach, it is transmitted to the players. Under the Italian Spartak was a courageous team, it’s enough to remember how many meetings were won in the last minutes. Now this is not. The question is in psychology.

- You want to say, the main problem is that Kononov cannot set up his players in the way Carrera did?

- Exactly. Now the players of Spartak are waiting for someone to do something for them. In addition, I do not quite agree with the composition, but this is not my business.

- On the eve of Spartak lost to Braga and flew out of the Europa League. Evgeni Lovchev blamed Alexander Maksimenko for defeat, who allegedly made a mistake in the episode with the first goal. Do you agree?

- Yes, he could drag. If he was half a step closer to the corner of the goal - he would have reacted. If Maksimenko took this ball, he would have got a very beautiful save. The blow was very difficult. However, I do not agree with such a categorical assessment.

- Returning to the “Locomotive”, Semin repeatedly hinted at problems with the composition. Buying how many football players would solve the problems of railway workers?

- Strengthening is necessary for everyone. Even the world football champions are looking for someone to bring to the national team. Of course, a couple of players would not have prevented Lokomotiv, especially given the fact that the team left Manuel Fernandes. It is good that the Miranchuk show football at a very high level. This year they are much better.

- In your opinion, João Mariou - a necessary gain for the “Locomotive”?

- It is impossible to unequivocally answer this question. Wait and see. Of course, the coach always wants to have a plan B and have a lot of players. But take the same Fernandes. If the Portuguese remained in the team, it is not a fact that Anton Miranchuk would have found a place in the composition.

- In addition to the average, which lines do Lokomotiv need to strengthen?

- I do not like how the railroad look in defense. There are problems in the central zone, in particular, the situation with Solomon Querkvelia is not clear. In addition, there are questions to the flank players, in particular, to Vladislav Ignatiev, who is either injured or in reserve.