– Marat, how do you find the match against CSKA (2:4)?
We played badly, of course. The first two periods, we do not know what they did. In the third, they more or less started playing their own hockey. Something started to work, but you have to act like it from the first period.
– Matches against CSKA – how much is a matter of trust? SKA lost against them three times in a row (1:2, 1:3, 2:4). Even though you were close.
– Agree. Here in these matches, when the score was 1:2 and 1:3, we played better than the opponent. But you have to realize moments. And when we don’t implement them, trust gets lost somewhere. It had an effect.
– You moved from Neftekhimik. Have you ever felt the status of a military derby?
– It’s clear that attention is riveted on him, there is a lot of excitement. Of course, such a derby… I watched it on TV. Always great matches are obtained, bone to bone. I hope we will win in the next game.
– What is your motivation to win the title of top scorer of the regular season?
– In fact, there is no such motivation. If it works, that will be nice. And the most important thing is the cup.
“But don’t you look at those who follow you?
– We still have to play 15-16 games, everything can change. Of course, that would be a nice title. But the main thing is to give the best, the more the game advances.
– In your opinion, who is the most dangerous competitor?
– Yes, they are all good players, I can’t single out anyone. More importantly, I am my team. We also have good guys: Yashkin, Gusev… They are also close.
– When you watch a video of the SKA dressing room after the victories, you have a nice family there, everyone is almost kissing. But when losses do happen, how tough is your head coach Roman Rotenberg? Can he hit trash cans, yell at you?
– Of course, losing is unpleasant. We communicate with each other, he tells us a few points. Somewhere it can rumble, because that’s normal.
– The SKA players did not leave the locker room long after this defeat. What did the coach tell you?
– I will not tell anything. Everything that happens there will stay in the locker room.
But it wasn’t noisy.
– I tell you, we talked to each other, solved all the problems.
– Rotenberg told a press conference that SKA was forced to win on the 80th anniversary of the breakthrough of the Leningrad blockade. Did he talk about it in the locker room?
– Yes, he set us up so that on such a day you could not lose. We let down a few of our fans. We will try to fix it in the next game.
– Could the SKA have been affected by the fact that you have already obtained access to the playoffs? Maybe relax?
– Not. We are prepared for every match. We cannot lose.
KHL top scorers
Source : MatchTV
I’m Emma Smith, a dedicated journalist and avid storyteller. I have been writing for news websites for the past 5 years, reporting on hockey news and delivering in-depth analysis of the sport. In my current role as Author at Athletistic, I write about hockey events from around the world to keep followers up-to-date with what’s happening in the sport.
