"Our concentration is high": the Russian national football team held the first training session at the base in Novogorsk

“We are looking forward to a good game.

We will solve our problems "

The collection of the Russian national team on the eve of the matches with Sweden, Turkey and Hungary started on October 3.

The first to arrive at the base in Novogorsk were Daler Kuzyaev, who is still without a club, and Andrei Semyonov, who was slightly damaged.

On Sunday, they were accompanied by a whole group of football players who had their meetings the day before.

Finally, on Monday, Stanislav Cherchesov's charges held their first training session with almost their full complement.

Only Valencia midfielder Denis Cheryshev, who is due to fly to Moscow in the evening, did not make it to Novogorsk.

At the same time, all 24 people who took to the field worked in a common group.

Including midfielder Igor Smolnikov and striker Nikolai Komlichenko, whom the coaching staff urgently called the day before under the banner of the national team instead of injured Sergei Petrov and Fedor Smolov.

Today we train with almost all of our team.

Only Denis Cheryshev is missing, who will join the team in the evening pic.twitter.com/d4DmLE6mdU

- Russian national team (@TeamRussia) October 5, 2020

After the end of the lesson, Stanislav Cherchesov answered questions from journalists.

The coach admitted that the players of the national team started the current training camp in good spirits.

“Firstly, Krasnodar reached the group stage of the Champions League, and secondly, Spartak and Zenit drew.

That is, the representatives of both teams have no negative opinion.

The only bad thing is that Petrov and Smolov were injured.

But these are the working moments through which we go through at each training camp, ”the RFU official website quotes the specialist as saying.

Cherchesov also admitted that the condition of the players who did not train in Novogorsk on Sunday has yet to be determined.

According to Cherchesov, by the evening of Tuesday, after the players have passed the "easy but informative test", it will become clear in what physical form they are.

At the same time, as part of the current training camp, the national team will have to play three matches in just a week: a friendly - with Sweden (October 8) and two Nations League meetings with Turkey (11th) and Hungary (14th).

In this situation, media representatives could not help asking Cherchesov a question about experiments with the composition.

“Rotation as such should only be beneficial.

If one footballer plays all three games at the top level, what is the point of artificially changing something?

Tomorrow evening the state of the players will become clear to us, and we will proceed from this.

Rotation must be present, but the main thing is that it happens correctly and on time, ”the specialist explained.

The fans and journalists also had questions about the next call to the national team of Daler Kuzyaev, who, after the expiration of the contract with Zenit, did not find a new club.

Cherchesov admitted that the day before, there was a high probability that the player would sign an agreement with Lokomotiv, but on Monday morning, “additional nuances appeared”.

“It is clear that his situation is dragging on, and soon the window for applications in the Champions League will close.

We had a conversation, because I also need to make plans.

Suddenly he will have to fly away somewhere.

There are many nuances.

Daler had his own thoughts on this matter ", 

- said the mentor.

Cherchesov also spoke about the closest rival - the Swedish national team, with which Russia last met in 2018 within the League of Nations.

Then the match in Kaliningrad ended in a goalless draw, and at home the Scandinavians won and outstripped the domestic team in the group.

“The Swedes have not changed much.

And there are generally no innovations in the tactical pattern.

They both played 4-4-2 and are playing.

In 2018, we played two matches with Tre Krunur.

One - immediately after the World Cup, when they were still in good condition, and the second - on the road in a mixed composition.

We had seven to eight people injured then.

The situation is much better this time.

Looking forward to a good game.

We will solve our problems, ”the coach said.

Finally, the specialist was glad about the fact that the next home matches of the Russian national team will be held with spectators.

At the same time, two meetings of the League of Nations will be hosted by VTB Arena, and a friendly game with Sweden - by VEB Arena.

Cherchesov expressed the hope that the national team will still play at Luzhniki.

"If it weren't for the restrictions, the national team would have sold out"

Several of Cherchesov's wards answered the questions of journalists.

In particular, Ilya Kutepov, who played only two matches in the Russian championship, spoke about his return to the national team.

The Spartak defender admitted that he missed the national team, whose colors he defended at the home world championship.

“Only good memories.

I really missed the national team, it's nice to come back here again.

Special thanks to the coaching staff for giving me this opportunity.

I will work and prove.

Very good team!

I missed all the guys, I think we will still have time to talk, to make plans for the future, ”the footballer said.

Kutepov also called his position in “Spartak” “difficult” and admitted that he was not satisfied with his current role in the team, in which he rarely gets into the base.

According to the defender, for his part, he does everything possible for this, but the final decision on the composition remains with the coaching staff of the red and white.

In turn, Kutepov's team-mate Zelimkhan Bakaev said that he had completely adapted in the national team in a year and a half, and also noted that the successful performance of Spartak at the start of the season had a beneficial effect on the red-and-white players.

“This is just the beginning.

Our concentration is high.

We will try to come to every training camp being at the same high place, ”Bakayev said.

At the same time, the level of the League of Nations, according to him, is much higher than the level of the RPL.

“Here you need to think fast, run a lot and be 100% ready.

I can't say anything about the Swedes, I only know that Jordan Larsson received a call to the national team.

Then they will tell us how to play with them, ”Bakaev added.

Daniil Fomin arrived at the national team's location in a good mood, as Dynamo beat him at home on Sunday against Krasnodar.

After that, the blue and white players received five days off. 

“Of course, there are no regrets that I was left without rest.

The challenge to the national team is what every footballer strives for.

Glad to be here.

I will try to fulfill all the requirements and believe in myself, ”the midfielder said.

Fomin also stressed that the level of rivals in the League of Nations is very high, and the colors of the national teams are protected by the players representing the leading teams in Europe.

“We have already won two matches.

Now we are going to have two home games, as well as a control game with Sweden.

You need to score your points, ”the Dynamo footballer emphasized. 

Finally, the midfielder was glad that the upcoming matches of the national team would be held in the presence of fans, but lamented that if it were not for the coronavirus pandemic, there could be many more.

“Of course, playing with the fans is another matter.

They drive forward.

The audience is much nicer.

It is a pity that the stadium can only be filled to 30%.

I think, if not for the restrictions, the national team would have been collecting notices, "Fomin added.