"You can't play like that against Petersburgers"
After the Super Cup match with Lokomotiv, Zenit head coach Sergei Semak was in a great mood.
His players won a crushing victory, scoring three goals, and once again confirmed that they have no equal in Russia today.
The 45-year-old specialist himself has already won the sixth trophy in his career.
At the same time, Semak, despite the large score, found a reason to praise his opponent.
“It was not so easy to enter the game, the emotional state was not ideal.
In the second half, the movement got better, we created good chances.
I am glad that the team managed to win in a difficult fight, thanks to everyone who helped to get the trophy for the club, fans, family.
We had problems with Lokomotiv's quick counterattacks, the opponent created certain difficulties for us.
We will work on all the components so that the game is of high quality, ”the mentor said at a press conference.
Semak also answered the question about the functional state of the striker Artyom Dziuba, who did not make the starting lineup and appeared on the field only in the 60th minute, but managed to give an assist.
“He came out and looked decent both in defense and in attack.
Those who are better prepared for the match will play next.
It is important to take into account the tactical characteristics of different opponents, ”added the coach.
And one of the main characters of the meeting as part of Zenit, perhaps, was Malcolm.
The midfielder scored an excellent pass to Serdar Azmun and created some more excellent dangerous chances.
Immediately after the Super Cup, the footballer will go to the location of the Brazilian Olympic team.
“He will certainly be missed.
He had excellent training, went through two training camps.
But matches like the Olympics happen once in a lifetime, so the club went to meet him.
It is desirable that Malcolm returned to St. Petersburg healthy and victorious.
The Super Bowl meeting did not affect his position in the national team.
It looks really good.
The preparation was not forced especially for the Olympic Games, the midfielder fully spent both training camps and was able to prepare normally.
Who will take his place?
Who will be better prepared, ”the specialist explained.
Semak also spoke about the departure of the main goalkeeper Andrei Lunev.
According to him, at the moment the team is "undersupplied" in this position.
“We decide the issue and think about how to proceed to make the kit complete,” the coach summed up.
The club president, Alexander Medvedev, also congratulated the team on the victory.
“The team played better, more efficiently with dedication.
We will continue to show this kind of football ", - quotes the words of the" Sport-Express "functionary
But Marko Nikolic was not in the best condition, because Lokomotiv lost to the reigning champion of Russia on business and could not take revenge from the opponent for the crushing defeat at the end of the last RPL season - 1: 6.
After another failure, the Serb complained that his charges were themselves to blame for what had happened.
Zenit is a very high-quality team that took advantage of our mistakes.
We brought all three goals ourselves.
You can't play like that against Petersburgers.
We are working, perestroika continues in the team.
A very difficult season awaits us, that's understandable.
We need to gather all the strength to show ourselves with dignity, ”said the coach.
Like Semak, Nikolic did not leave the press conference without answering the question about the future newcomers to the team.
However, he did not give any specifics on this topic and only reminded that the railway workers still have places for legionnaires.
“I have said many times that my team is the best.
Every coach would probably like to have Lionel Messi in the lineup.
But he is not there, he plays somewhere out there ... We have a lot of players from the academy.
There are two places for foreigners.
Ze Luis is not in the best condition at the moment.
You have to go through it.
I do not want to comment on transfers.
When it happens, then we will discuss it, ”added Nikolic.
He did not comment on information about a possible interest in Yuri Zhirkov, who continues to recover from an injury sustained at Euro 2020.
According to the specialist, he has no information about negotiations with the veteran.
"Each of us gave his best, did everything in our power"
As a result, Azmun was named the best footballer of the confrontation, who scored the second goal, beautifully beating Marinato Guilherme.
The Iranian has already scored his fourth goal in the last two matches with Lokomotiv.
In May, he scored a hat-trick.
After the final whistle, the joyful striker even jokingly suggested to the Zenit press officer “to speak Persian”.
"I'm tired.
Very hot, phew!
Phew, bro, it's very hot!
Another cup?
Congratulations, ”the forward shouted.
In turn, the Croatian defender of the blue-white-blue Dejan Lovren, who just recently returned to the general group and was content to come on as a substitute in the end, posted a photo with the Super Cup from the locker room.
It is curious that in just a year in Russia, the legionnaire has already won three trophies.
“The collection is growing.
That's why I came here.
Well done, guys, ”wrote Lovren.
Another foreign football player of Zenit Sebastian Driussi was also pleased with the victory.
The Argentinean, according to rumors, may leave the team in the near future, but in Kaliningrad he left the first minutes and helped the Petersburgers win an important victory.
“It's just that when I find myself on the pitch, I try to give my all for the sake of my partners, for the sake of our big family, which is Zenit.
When I manage to start from the first minutes, it becomes additional motivation for me.
Today I just did what I usually do: give all my best.
I am happy that my efforts have led to a victory, ”the club's official website quotes the striker.
The forward also disagreed that Azmun should be recognized as the best player of the match.
In his opinion, the whole team deserved this title.
“Each of us gave his best, did everything in our power.
Of course, Azmun is a great footballer who helps us a lot, but if you are asking whom I would like to mention, I will name the whole team.
We are great, ”added Driussi.
In turn, Artyom Dzyuba did not communicate with journalists.