Former director “Tractors” Andrei Balandin expressed the opinion that the head coach Anvar Gatiyatulin will not be able to play offensive hockey in Kazan “Ak Barse” .
Earlier, Ak Bars announced the appointment of Gatiyatulin to the position of head coach, the contract with him is for two years. Before that, the specialist headed Traktor, but was fired last season.
“I am happy that Anwar has signed the contract. Now he has a good opportunity to prove that he is truly a coach with a capital T. I consider Ak Bars a top club, all conditions have been created there. From now on, everything depends only on him. Gatiyatulin will have to prove what he is capable of, what he learned at Traktor over the years and what he learned by going to America. We only wish him good luck.
— Can Ak Bars show active hockey, as Gatiyatulin now promises?
— I don’t think he has changed as a coach. To play offensive hockey, you must understand the game yourself. Gatiyatulin was a defensive defender, and hockey players in this role are oriented towards defense and fear of mistakes. As a player, he was slow, had poor skating and was always afraid of making mistakes. It’s psychology, it can’t be changed. In addition, he takes people with whom he worked in Chelyabinsk to his headquarters. Who stopped Alexey Tertyshny from setting up Traktor’s power play and offense? God of course grant that Gatiyatulin succeeds. But I doubt he will be able to play offensive hockey again. Most likely, Ak Bars will turn to strict defense and play on counterattacks. Apparently, in Kazan, people believe in Gatiyatulin and his understanding of the game,” Balandin said, as quoted by RB Sport.
Gatiyatulin led Traktor from 2020 to 2023. At the end of March 2024, Sibir announced an agreement to conclude a contract with Gatiyatulin, but the coach ultimately abandoned this option.
RB Sport
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