"Shunin is our number one": Cherchesov - about the main goalkeeper of the Russian national team, the match with Bulgaria and Kirkorov's visit

"Kirkorov and I first talked in the room, then took pictures on the field."

- Summarize, please, the results of the two-week training camp. What did you manage to accomplish, and how did the test match with Poland fit into the schedule?

- We carry out the entire program, but, of course, at no training camp does it happen that all the players take part in all the classes. Some have fewer problems, some have more. We follow them closely and sometimes give pauses both in matches and in the training process. Denis Cheryshev and Mario Fernandez are already in the ranks and have been in the general group for three days. Let's look at their condition to see if they are ready to meet with Bulgaria. This is the final test match ahead of the Euro. As for the game with Poland, it gave food for thought to both us and the guys. They had not met for a long time, and now they felt each other again. These matches are always useful. I wanted to win, but we are happy with the players' attitude to business, and we will correct the game moments.

- The national team had at least two working schemes of the game - with three and two central defenders.

You checked the first one in the match with Poland.

Does this mean that in the game with Bulgaria you will test the second one?

- We are working on various options.

It is clear that four defenders were played more, and therefore we devote less time to this formation, since it is more familiar.

But I repeat once again, at the continental championship we will have specific rivals who act in different ways.

Our task is to bring the team to the Euro in a condition that will allow it to be competitive.

Until we spray.

- In the match with Poland, you unexpectedly replaced Anton Shunin at the beginning of the second half and released Matvey Safonov.

How do you see the goalkeeper line at Euro?

- Shunin, Safonov, Yuri Dupin.

They are in our application.

In the training process, it was clear that Matvey got in good shape.

He is also completely healthy.

But at the training camp at the end of last year, he came not in the best condition, plus he fell ill with coronavirus.

We have seen that he has a certain fatigue.

Every footballer needs to be ready for the games, so they gave Safonov the opportunity to enter the field.

We are confident in everyone, and we have no problem with that.

Another thing is that Shunin is number one here.

He is preparing for the European Championship.

- In the meeting with Poland, Alexander Golovin and Alexey Miranchuk entered the field together from the first minutes.

How would you rate their interaction?

- It is a pity that often we simply do not have time.

Sasha was not in the national team for a year and a half.

Lesha also missed matches.

Now, preparing for the Euro, we are trying to pay maximum attention to establishing ties between them.

These are two players who know how to do non-standard things in attack.

These are always needed.

Another thing is how we distribute the roles so that both one and the other look good.

A pleasant headache for us and Golovin and Miranchuk, who should communicate more with each other.

- Yesterday Magomed Ozdoev expressed regret over the injury of Kevin De Bruyne.

Without him, Belgium drew with Greece - 1: 1.

What are the main conclusions made from this match?

- When you hear that we were “delighted” with De Bruyne's injury, I just want to say “God forbid”.

Kevin is our colleague.

When Mohammed Salah broke down before the start of the World Cup, we regretted the absence of such a football player who could decorate the tournament.

We wish no one harm.

Opposed the Belgians with and without De Bruyne.

This is a master of the highest level.

How can you be glad that a guy got hurt?

We hope he gets well and plays with us.

I did not watch the match with Greece, as I was preparing for our meeting with Bulgaria, but we will study it later.

For now, we are trying not to dissipate.

By the way, Denmark in Innsbruck also drew with Germany - 1: 1.

- Fernandez and Cheryshev missed the friendly match with the Polish national team due to minor injuries.

What are their prospects for taking part in the game with Bulgaria?

- They have been training in the general group for several days.

Yesterday and today we have fully conducted classes.

Let's evaluate how they showed themselves.

Naturally, the doctors will tell us how long both are ready to go to the field.

We will proceed from this.

It is clear that every player needs to prepare.

If possible, we will give Mario and Denis playing time.

Another thing is that desires and possibilities sometimes diverge.

But both one and the second are gaining condition.

- How did the team react to the visit of Philip Kirkorov to the training?

- We knew that he would sing the anthem before the match with Bulgaria.

But yesterday UEFA received a message that Kirkorov would not be allowed to enter the field and sing there.

I was asked to give him the opportunity to stop by before the fight and have a little chat.

But a game is a game, and we would not give Philip Bedrosovich enough attention.

Asked to visit us on Friday, if possible.

Kirkorov arrived at 11 am, as promised.

We first talked with him in the room, then took pictures on the field.

He wished us luck.

- A question at the junction of the most popular sports: is there an understanding that after the failure of the hockey team at the World Cup, an even greater responsibility falls on the football team?

And does not such a factor press?

- You can say that I watched the quarterfinals with Canada with one eye.

The TV was on, but we were preparing our workout.

At this level, any moment decides the outcome of a match and a tournament.

Let's accept the situation as it is.

This is a great sport, a sport of the highest achievements.

Our "Red Car" has brought us a lot of joy in recent years.

And failure is needed in order to then take two steps forward.

We were rooting for the guys.

Now we are starting our tournament.

"I feel comfortable interacting with Sasha"

Alexey Miranchuk also took part in the press conference.

The legionnaire answered questions about his connection with Golovin, told how his functions in Atalanta and the national team differ, and admitted that he was upset with the defeat of Russia by Canada in the quarterfinals of the World Hockey Championship.

- You arrived at the location of the national team a little later than your partners.

How are you feeling?

- Despite the fact that I missed three training days, I completed all the main exercises that were given.

I feel great.

As Stanislav Salamovich says, everything goes on as usual, so we are preparing for the next meeting.

- How comfortable is it for you to play in combination with Golovin, considering that you have similar roles?

- When everyone understands what needs to be done on the field, there is no difference with whom exactly to go out.

But if you take the two of us, then, of course, it is comfortable for me to interact with Sasha.

We have established a certain understanding.

There is a football intellect.

We are developing in this regard and trying to make sure that the result comes.

- What is the difference between your attacking functions in the national team and in Atalanta?

- The requirements are different, but the main task is to bring as much benefit as possible in the attack.

At the gathering of the national team, I had enough time to understand my functions and prepare.

There are no problems with this.

- On Friday, Kirkorov visited the Russian national team.

What are your impressions of his visit?

- Everyone was pleasantly surprised.

Philip Bedrosovich added colors to our sunny days.

We had a good conversation, and he even brought us gifts.

But then the smiles disappeared from our faces, and everyone went to training.

- Did you manage to watch the quarter-final match of the Ice Hockey World Championship between Russia and Canada?

- Only the third period. To be honest, I had never watched hockey before, I was not sick, but it so happened that I turned on the TV and was very upset about the guys. I perfectly understand how they wanted to reach the semifinals. But it is difficult to draw parallels between the national teams. We have our own tasks and a tournament. We will do our best.