"The club knows how to count money": Nepomniachtchi on CSKA transfer policy, Diveev's progress and Chalov's problems

- In the summer transfer window, CSKA earned about € 43 million by selling to Nikol Vlasic, Konstantin Maradishvili and Nair Tiknizyan, as well as leasing Arnor Sigurdsson.

At the same time, the army team did not make a single big purchase.

What could be the reason for such a decision of the red-blue?

- CSKA and this time CSKA remained, excuse the tautology.

It is not entirely advisable to spend money, even if it is available, in such a transfer window.

The team has a serious bonus in the form of a lack of European cups.

The management set for Alexey Berezutsky the task of using those players who are available.

- Couldn't the most successful acquisitions of the last year (Bruno Fuchs and Adolfo Gaich) affect?

- They know how to count money.

I repeat, now the coach has the opportunity to give his wards a chance to improve and reach a new level.

I am sure that the same Fuchs will still appear on the field.

And Chidera Ejuke is showing himself brighter and brighter.

There is a growth problem, and this is a completely normal process.

But the example of a Nigerian shows that if a football player plays and is trusted, then he grows.

- According to Transfermarkt's data, Lokomotiv bypassed the army team in terms of the cost of the squad and came out on this indicator to the fourth place among the RPL clubs.

Does this mean that the red and blue have ceased to be a contender for a ticket to the Champions League?

- In my opinion, it is not entirely correct to be guided by this indicator.

Last season, when CSKA dropped out of the European league, should be a strong motivating factor.

We need to play with this squad, realize the potential of the players and fight for a return to Europe.

- Speaking about the composition, questions start from the goalkeeper's position, because there is no replacement for Igor Akinfeev.

Is it a problem that 17-year-old Vladislav Torop and 19-year-old Danila Bokov became the veteran's understudies?

- God bless Igor to play as long as possible.

His role in the team is enormous.

But he himself started at 16. You can be sure that this issue was discussed with Akinfeev.

And if he sees potential in replacements, then there is no reason for concern.

- Also CSKA has no replacement for Mario Fernandez on the right flank of the defense.

And Georgy Shchennikov does not feel so confident on the opposite.

- Yes, Mario brilliantly plays the role of an attacking flank defender.

But the army team has performers who can replace him.

You need to understand that when placing in three central defenders, the functions of the wingers change.

For example, Baktiyor Zainutdinov and Konstantin Kuchaev can play there.

At the same time, the defensive player must be able to close the flank in time or go down to the zone of the central defenders.

- Is Maxim Mukhin able to cope with the task at hand?

- I really like him.

Mukhin knows how to integrate himself into the game, he intelligently adjusts to the situation on the field.

All his movements are reasonable and economical.

The only thing is that Maxim still lacks muscle mass and needs to gain in physical terms.

But the guy's potential is very high.

It is no coincidence that he was called up to the national team at the age of 19.

- CSKA now has five central defenders: Igor Diveev, Viktor Vasin, Cedric Gogua, Fuchs and Herdur Magnusson.

At the same time, the last two are injured and will not return to duty soon.

Will Berezutsky be able to build a reliable defensive game with such a selection of players?

- It is easier for Aleksey to solve this problem, since he himself was a central defender.

The coach is able to help the same Vasin, who regularly makes productive mistakes.

I have always considered Victor to be a very good footballer.

Obviously, he has psychological problems, but this black streak must end.

- Diveev, on the contrary, is gradually acquiring the status of irreplaceable even in the national team.

Can he be called the leader of the CSKA defense?

- I consider Igor one of the best in his position in the country.

He is fast enough, knows how to read the game, is good at martial arts.

Add in the first pass - and become a defender without flaws.

- Do you see Yaku Biyola paired with Diveev?

Although he is a nominal midfielder, now he is in the center of defense not only in CSKA, but also in the Slovenian national team?

- Honestly, when Biyol and Kristian Bistrovich appeared in the team, I thought they did not correspond to the level of Muscovites.

But recently Yaka has improved.

And the coaches trust him for a reason.

- At the moment there are nine midfielders in the team, five of whom are Russians.

But only Mukhin received a call from Valery Karpin.

Does this indicate an insufficient level of the rest?

- There are problematic positions in the national team, but there are more than enough players in the middle of the field.

And they are all very high quality.

Therefore, the non-inclusion of the same Ilzat Akhmetov and Ivan Oblyakov in the national team does not mean that they are weak players.

- It seems that Akhmetov and Oblyakov have stopped progressing.

Three years ago, they beat Real in the Champions League in the red and blue squad, but they never reached a fundamentally new level.

What is the reason?

- Yes, both started very brightly at CSKA.

They came out in the starting lineup and showed themselves.

Then Ilzat was injured, Ivan began to be used in different positions.

As a result, the players' play faded.

Despite the fact that the guys were used in the support zone, I see them as creators.

- Is this season a defining one for them?

- It is very important that Oblyakov and Akhmetov are constantly playing now.

There is no doubt that they have high potential.

Berezutsky must help them uncover it.

- Remembering the matches with Real Madrid, Nikola Vlašić played the first violin in CSKA then.

Do the army men have internal reserves to replace him painlessly?

- The loss of a Croat is significant for CSKA.

After his departure, the importance of Akhmetov, Oblyakov and, first of all, Alan Dzagoev increases.

The aforementioned footballers should feel this for themselves and understand what an important task is now facing them.

- A couple of years ago, Evgeny Giner did not let Fyodor Chalov go to Crystal Palace.

Does Vlašić's transfer to West Ham contradict this decision?

- Firstly, CSKA at that time did not have an equivalent replacement for the striker.

Secondly, it was early to sell.

Yes, Chalov had a quality season in Russia, but this does not mean that he would have shown himself as brightly in England.

- Is the decline in Fedor's game related to that failed transition?

- Chalov does too much self-digging.

He is too demanding of himself and takes unsuccessful matches very hard.

This does not allow him to open up.

Now I look at Chalov, and he does not at all resemble himself in the "youth team".

Then he dribbled, scored, and now he has too many individual mistakes.

- How to regain confidence?

- This is the job of a coach.

Be a psychologist and help the player.

Fedor needs to calm down, because he can do everything perfectly.

- Is CSKA capable of solving serious problems in the RPL with a pair of strikers Chalov - Zabolotny?

- For the RPL, this is a strong duo of forwards.

If we're talking about playing three center-backs, you can use them together.

I would keep Zabolotny closer to the gate so that Chalov could act from the depths.

I have only one complaint to Anton: he is too emotional, ready to tear everyone to shreds.

Sometimes it bothers him.

- It turns out that what Chalov lacks, Zabolotny has more than enough.

Will it help them build rapport on the pitch?

- There is such an expression: “disadvantages - continuation of advantages”.

It turns out that one can add, and the other subtract.

Then everything will work out.

- Still, Chalov and Zabolotny can hardly be called scorers.

Don't you think that CSKA lacks a striker of the level of Wagner Love, Jo, Seydou Doumbia, Ahmed Musa?

- Legionnaires are devalued in Russian football.

What was before and now is impossible to compare.

The level of foreigners fell, and not only at CSKA.

If before we could interest them with money, now - no.

Our football is not attractive to them.

- In this case, CSKA is doing the right thing, betting on the youth?

For example, in the match against Akhmat, 19-year-old Vladislav Yakovlev scored his debut goal in adult football.

- I really liked him in this game.

Came out and showed himself great.

Let's see how often Vladislav will be included in the squad.

There are no questions, there are good young performers in the team.

The task of coaches is to help them develop.

- CSKA has always been famous for its stability and has consistently set itself the highest goals.

From 2012 to 2014, you were an advisor to Giner and you know the inner kitchen firsthand.

Tell me, do the fans have cause for alarm?

- I want them to understand that times are changing.

The football club is a living organism.

And the same processes take place there as in humans.

It happens that injuries, illnesses or something else happen.

The management always takes the reputation of the club very seriously.

You need to stay together and fight for the highest places.