“It's time to get used to it: you must wait for VAR before rejoicing”: what they said after the match “Locomotive” - “Zenith”

"An ugly match in our performance"

The first to answer journalists' questions was the mentor of Zenit Sergey Semak. The specialist was dissatisfied with the game of his team and commented on the work of the judiciary led by Mikhail Vilkov.

“We started well, controlled the ball until the 20th minute. But in general, they played below their level. Alas, the brothers could not in the second half. I have a lot of questions for attacking actions, played toothless and missed a completely optional goal. Judging questions even with VAR. I do not understand why the arbitrators make mistakes even after all the innovations. True, everything was fair in matters of canceled goals, ”the blue-white-blue coach began his speech.

Journalists told Semak that “Zenith” during the current season has lost its best qualities shown in the past season, but the coach fended off their statements.

“We go step by step. Need time. Since the championship season, much has changed. A large group of players left, new ones came in their place. Now you need to properly analyze the composition of the team. Feel the potential of the players and use their strengths. I agree, our team should always play at the maximum level and I’ll wait for it to happen, ”the coach admitted.

After analyzing the game of the whole team, Semak turned to personalities and drew attention to the actions of goalkeeper Zenit Andrei Lunev and defender Yuri Zhirkov.

“According to Lunev I will say this. At the first moment, it seemed to me that he was mistaken, the second episode is not yet ready to comment, when I review it, then I will be ready to put my mark. As for Zhirkov’s replacement, it was hard for Yura. Of course, he is a master, with good qualities, but the volume of intensity is not always enough, ”explained the specialist.

At the end of the conversation, Semak explained why Zenit had not accepted Lokomotiv’s offer to postpone the match and said that he believed in the final success of his team.

“We also have a complicated schedule. For example, we flew to the Cup even further than Lokomotiv. Moreover, after the cup they had two matches at home, in our case, the games are held away. Regarding the championship race I will say this. The season is long, a specific match does not solve anything. Yes, I want to always win, but the fact that the group of leaders is so dense our championship is only more interesting, ”concluded Semak.

As for the Zenit players, they were stricter to themselves than the coach. The chief speaker of blue-white-blue Artyom Dziuba completely refused to communicate with the press, throwing only a few phrases to journalists.

“There is nothing to say, an ugly match in our performance,” said Dzyuba on the way to the club bus.

Unlike the captain of the Russian national team, the captain of Zenit, Branislav Ivanovich nevertheless gave a detailed analysis of the actions of his team.

“The game was ruined by minor mistakes. You can not do it this way. They themselves lost the scheme and, as a result, the organization of the game. This will be a great lesson for us. I will not hide the fact that working in such a schedule as we are very hard. But we are one team, which means we win and lose together, ”admitted the captain of the blue-white-blue.

In addition, Ivanovich did not focus on the refereeing and said that one lost match would not bring down the mood of Zenit.

“The championship is long, you need to understand that it will not always be the way we want. We need to prepare for the next games, they will be even harder. Repeat with a goal did not see. No complaints. We are for good football so that the fans have fun. Everyone knows what and how it was, everyone saw everything, so I won’t say anything, ”the Serbian legionnaire explained.

Midfielder Zenith Vyacheslav Karavaev did not argue with the decision of the judges, but admitted that he could not answer questions why the team lost the rhythm of the game.

“Hard game. It’s difficult when you score, you return and the goal is canceled. But nothing can be done. These are the rules of the game. We have to work and show our football in the next match. Why did you play toothless? It’s hard to say, we’ll deal with the team, ”Karavaev told reporters.

Magomed Ozdoev did not agree with the opinion of his teammate. According to the midfielder, Zenit can cope with emotional problems.

“Canceling a goal doesn’t knock us down before the Champions League. It's just time to get used to it, that when you score a goal you need to wait for the VAR. True, it malfunctions. I got a penalty, but he wasn’t assigned. The match didn’t work out for us, the Lokomotiv counterattack team, they are waiting for the opponent in their half of the field. They did it, we don’t. It happens, ”said Ozdoev.

“A good sign for us”

The head coach of Lokomotiv, Yuri Semin, surprised journalists by moving away from the tradition of express analysis of the match and asking reporters to immediately start asking point-blank questions. Accepting the coach’s offer, the media drew attention to the fact that in the absence of the Miranchuk brothers, a new attacking resource had opened in red-green.

"Perhaps you `re right. But Miranchuk are irreplaceable players for us. At the moment, there is simply no one to replace them. We are really looking forward to Lesha. We hope for every game to return it. He already works, performs a volume of physical actions. I hope to play with Atlético. But for me it is very important that the player himself comes and tells me that he is ready, ”Semin began his speech.

Further, the trainer commented on the emotional performance of Fedor Smolov. During the break, the forward said that the RPL calendar was built taking into account the interests of Zenit. Semin did not agree with this interpretation, but at the same time acknowledged the shortcomings made in the formation of the season schedule.

“The fact that the calendar is not drawn up correctly, I completely agree. Teams that play in European competition should have an advantage. Required. Now, after such a difficult match, it will be very difficult to go against Atletico. You can say that they play in such a schedule. Yes, they do, but this is a club that is a cut above all Russian clubs. So we would have at least a minimal advantage. I don’t understand why we played today, ”an experienced specialist admitted.

At the same time, Semin explained why, despite the busy schedule of games, he did not make replacements for a long time, and stated that the meeting was extremely important for his team.

“I didn’t change because all the players were well prepared, they didn’t fall out. The only thing that had to be done was to make adjustments when the Zenit launched Ivanovich on the attack, then we rearranged Murilo and changed Smolov to Kolomeytsev. Otherwise, I would not go for a replacement. Meaning? If everything goes well. We are glad to win, this was the most important match of the current season, ”the coach summed up.

After 90 minutes, Fedor Smolov apologized to his rivals and admitted that he generally welcomed the VAR system.

“I really didn’t want to offend anyone. It was all on emotions. As for my goal, I thought there was no foul. The judge was close with us, but did not fix it, so he was surprised when they went to watch the VAR. I’m for VAR, I just have to accept it. Now the most important thing is that we won an important victory in the match with a difficult opponent. This is doubly pleasant, ”Smolov told reporters.

Benedict Höwedes called the victory of Lokomotiv well-deserved and noted that it would help Lokomotiv to play in the Champions League with dignity.

“They played well in defense. This is a good sign for us, as it is the efforts of the whole team. We can be proud of it. In unity, you can challenge large teams. A tough match awaits us on Tuesday, but we already know our strength: it, as well as our fans, will push us forward, ”said the German defender.

The author of the winning goal of Loko, Grzegorz Krychowiak, asked the journalists to write and talk about the whole team complementary.

“My result is not important for me, the main thing is that the whole team has achieved success. This is my best season of my career. But we must continue also with the team. We won the last four matches, which the whole team is very happy about. Now we need to prepare for the Champions League, ”concluded the Polish legionnaire.