Lokomotiv-Kuban Center Andrei Martyuk in a conversation with , he presented the strengths of his team against CSKA in the quarterfinals of the United League Super Cup, and also announced that the Kuban team is ready to become champions in the new VTB League season.
Last season of the United League, Lokomotiv-Kuban won silver medals, and Kazan UNICS won the champion title. On Saturday, Krasnodar became the winner of the Kuban Cup, winning the final match against Samara (94:68).
Next week, the “red-greens” will participate in the United League Super Cup. The tournament will take place in Moscow at the VTB Arena from September 21 to 24. In the quarter-finals, Lokomotiv’s opponent will be CSKA. UNICS, Zenit, MBA, PARI NN and the Turkish Fenerbahce and Besiktas will also participate in the Super Cup. Watch live broadcasts of the Super Cup on the channels of the holding.
— During the meeting with Samara in the final of the Kuban Cup, Lokomotiv at one point led +42. Has the team already reached peak form?
— We are slowly gaining momentum. My physical condition has improved a little. In the sense that we no longer have such heavy loads as a week ago in Turkey. Additionally, we all remember the interaction and establish it. In the Kuban Cup final, we played our own basketball. They added more to the defense and added aggression, and this is the result.
— In the quarter-finals of the United League Super Cup, Loko will face CSKA. Last season of the VTB League, you did not let the “red-blues” enter the final. It’s probably very symbolic that the army team is the opponent in the Super Cup?
– Yes, it will be interesting. Here it is necessary to take into account that two leaders left in the off-season – Milutinov and Shved, through whom the game was subsequently built. In principle, the military team retained the Russian core, but the composition of foreigners changed slightly. But it’s still interesting, and I think our game plan will be a little different than it was in the semi-finals that season. Nevertheless, the task is the same: to win.
— Did you watch CSKA’s friendly matches during the pre-season?
— I’m going to tell you about myself that I haven’t observed. In general, they watched our matches more and analyzed them. In addition, I was able to watch the matches of Zenit, Runa and Yenisei. But in the coming days we will have debriefings, scouting and videos. We will thus learn to know our opponent better.
— In your opinion, what are Lokomotiv’s strengths against CSKA?
— It’s teamwork, it’s mutual understanding. Because the Russian backbone has been with us for quite a long time. The foreign players who have come are integrating well into the team. There are good relationships within the team.
— Emil Raikovich, in an interview with , said that he considers Zenit and UNICS to be the favorites for the upcoming season. What does that mean?
– Well, if he thinks so, then that’s a little extra motivation for us (laughs). Because even without these words, the motivation is enormous. Well, let’s see: the season is long.
— Which teams do you consider favorites?
— I can’t say (laughs). I consider that only we are the favorites.
— How do you feel, are you ready to win the Belov Cup in the new season?
-Yes. Last season we played in the final, but we won it. The coaches and all the players say it appears the matter is not over. We believe that we can reach the final again and even improve our result,” Martyuk told the correspondent.
Source : MatchTV
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