"Plays in the style of Ibragimovich": Bilyaletdinov on the transformation of Smolov, the progress of Maradishvili and the pace of "Lokomotiv"

- Is it already noticeable how Lokomotiv has changed with the arrival of Marcus Gisdol?

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The distance is short.

I can only say one thing for now - this is a lucky coach.

It is clear that those who are lucky are lucky.

But first there was a gift from Rubin: the defender passed the ball back, the player was left in the center without covering the shot, and an unforced error led to a goal.

Then the incident in the game with Nizhny Novgorod helped.

The team was able to recoup from such a transfer, which most often does not pass: under the defender's foot, next to the goalkeeper.

Forced the opponent to make a mistake.

With Galatasaray, there were also chances to snatch victory, Fernando Muslera miraculously saved the team in the last minutes in one of the episodes.

But here, too, I was lucky to some extent.

Be the Turks calmer, more self-confident and more skilled, the result could have been different.

They created very dangerous moments in the guests' penalty area.

If the score had become 2: 0, it would have been very difficult to recoup.

So there are still enough problems here.

- And yet there is progress for the better?

- One thing pleases: the fight for the ball began not from time to time, but constantly.

The two teams grappled, and Lokomotiv looked decent.

Fought for the ball in the center of the field.

It would seem that the gates of both are still far away.

But from struggle to struggle, to the pace.

This is the quality of German football, the Bundesliga.

If the coach manages to instill this in the players and the railroad workers manage to play at a pace, then they will add and will have a better chance of winning the domestic championship.

Such a game will also help in European competitions, if the red-greens are able to qualify from the group, of course.

But this is a very energy-consuming way of playing.

There should be high pressure, and a quick transition from defense to attack, a paced fight without five to ten minute pauses.

This requires both mental and physical preparation.

Slogans alone will not solve the matter, you have to run your legs.

But the prospect is good.

And then a question to the coaching staff, players and selection.

We need a good selection of players for this system.

- Didn't Lokomotiv play too adventurously against Galatasaray in the second half?

- In boxing, this is called a wheelhouse, without any tactical drawings. So here too, the struggle for victory began. Both teams neglected tactics. The game turned out to be spectacular, but not of the highest quality from the point of view of the coaching approach. Breaks, free zones, room for action. Although this was understandable - the teams flew for victory. It is unlikely that such actions are a coach's idea. The teams played as in the yard, first at one, then at the other gate. There was a constant exchange of blows. It was with the Turks that it passed. If Italians or Germans were in their place, it might not work. There you rarely see attack on attack so sweepingly. A different approach to the game. But, as an episode, it looks spectacular, beautiful, exciting. Passions were in full swing, but they did not cross a certain line either.

- Lokomotiv lost Tino Angorin for some time, who was diagnosed with an ankle injury.

Will this loss become serious?

- I do not think.

It will be revealed in Russia for a long time, like Girano Kerk.

It seems that the latter can add and while acting at reduced revs.

I personally think the striker is able to play faster.

With Angiorin, it is also not clear yet.

It seems to have scored well against Marcel.

The class is visible.

If this potential unfolds, of course, over time it will strengthen the team.

- In the meantime, do you have to dream about it?

- Alas.

The high-speed, explosive work of both him and Kirk is not at the same level, even in comparison with Smolov in the match against Galatasaray.

I don't know what his mock-positive test was, but for a couple of days without training, you can immediately see that the forward is not in that good shape.

At the moment, it is more important for Lokomotiv to restore Smolov's condition.

Then there will be creativity in the attack, because Gisdol has a very active troika - Beka-Bek, Maradishvili and Zhemaletdinov.

She can saturate any striker with balls.

- Smolov, with the change of mentor, began to go down to the center of the field much more often ...

- Yes, he now plays in the style of Ibrahimovic.

He began to leave the front line in the depth of the field to receive the ball and organize an attack there.

At the same time, it manages to both overclock and complete, which is very valuable.

Nice approach.

There is such a manner of playing.

Zlatan is the most striking example in this respect.

When he crossed the threshold of 35 years old, he began to act like this.

He also took over the dispatching functions.

If Smolov can rebuild and start acting like that on a permanent basis, then for Lokomotiv and for the national team it will be of great help.

- Recently, Konstantin Maradishvili has been playing an increasing role in the team.

Do you agree?

- To be honest, I thought he was a player of a slightly different plan.

Probably, he added to his work, adapted, got older, matured.

I moved to a different age category and changed my approach to the game.

In CSKA, he was not so bright.

Although this may be related to the vision of Gisdol.

Perhaps he considered something that others did not notice.

In the middle line, the railway workers have mobile guys - Beka-Beka, Barinov, Magkeev.

They are diverse players, but from the point of view of competition, this is only beneficial.

It's always better to have someone to work with.

- Can Lokomotiv play from a position of strength in the Sunday derby, given the tactics Spartak followed in Leicester?

- I think the guests are favorites in this meeting. The red and white status will not allow the second number to act. Although, of course, I could be wrong. Lokomotiv has more creativity in attack at the moment due to certain circumstances. Something incomprehensible is happening at Spartak, they play so hard, you can count the dangerous moments on your fingers. All the time they run into something. There are some successful programs, but so far there is nothing systemic.

“Spartacus” in this match, perhaps, should change itself again and defend with numbers, not skill.

And try to catch your opponent on counterattacks, using free zones, but for this you need the right players.

So here the coaching staff has something to break their heads over, which drawing to choose and whether the performers are ready for it.

I think the match will be interesting.

Especially considering the successful departure of both teams to Turkey and England.

But Spartak is still far from good condition.

He has a creative crisis.

All this affects the results and psychologically puts a burden on both individual players and the entire team as a whole.

Lokomotiv has no such thing.