The head coach “Lokomotiv” Igor Nikitin after the last playoff series of the Fonbet Championship KHL With “Metallurgist” said that he was not worried whether the management of the Yaroslavl club would fire him.
Metallurg won the Gagarin Cup final, beating Lokomotiv in four matches. Ural goalkeeper Ilya Nabokov was recognized as the most valuable player of the playoffs.
— You won 4-0 in the final when you managed CSKA. Now they lost the final with a score of 0 to 4. How do you feel now?
– It’s so hard to describe, of course. Devastation, feeling of dissatisfaction. Sports anger.
— Do you find this result unfair?
“We got what we deserved.” How else can we approach this? It is necessary to correctly analyze the mistakes made – first of all, in preparation for the final series.
— Aren’t your guys dizzy from the compliments before the final?
“I don’t think it relaxed our guys or calmed us down in any way.” A lot of guys are performing at this stage for the first time. It’s always an experience. And no matter how much you talk about it, until you experience it yourself, you won’t know anything.
— Do you agree that Lokomotiv was disappointed by the lack of a strong attack?
— If you now approach this question differently and count the average of goals per match before the final, then we will probably be the first team.
— If the final had lasted up to seven matches, could Maxim Shalunov have played?
– No. There is such an injury that there is no chance. Of course, we didn’t score enough goals in the final, and we understand that. But it’s also our problem this season, which got worse at the decisive moment.
— What type of reinforcement does Lokomotiv need for next season?
— I would not like to make any statements without delay. But we have to be realistic, depending on the market. In addition, these young people who took leadership positions this year, who stalled this year, are in our reserve.
— You were fired from CSKA after the lost final. Do you have a safety margin at Lokomotiv?
– Thank God, I already have various experiences. I don’t worry about how it will go. It’s up to management to decide. My task is to work and enjoy the process. I am already a fairly experienced trainer. They sing my praises or kick my ass – I don’t need that.
— Is Lokomotiv’s championship window still open?
– And it depends on the state of the guys in the locker room at the moment. If they are convinced they are finalists, then there is a problem. If there is a feeling in the pit of their stomach and their heart trembles, then there is hope.
— What did you say to your players after the final?
“I said the same thing,” reports the correspondent, according to Nikitin’s words.
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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.
