“SKA plays from a position of strength”
– SKA has already won nine victories at the start of the championship. How to explain the success of the army of Saint Petersburg?
– There is a solid workforce, a serious organization of the club, and a very powerful technical staff. The main reasons for the success are obvious. We can see that SKA is playing with a big margin. CSKA in each match acts from a position of strength. Another question is how they can distribute this force over a long season? But for now, SKA looks powerful compared to its rivals.
– Did you expect Khairullin to immediately become the leader of the St. Petersburg club?
– It’s not a feeling. It’s just that these players often have a problem after moving from an “average” to a top club. After all, it’s one thing to be a leader at Neftekhimik, and quite another to win that position at a club like SKA. There is always a risk here. But Khairullin has proven he is ready to prove himself at this level as well. Admittedly, lately he has slowed down a bit with goals, but he has started the season very powerfully. Marat is already 26 years old, it’s time for him to declare himself out loud. Going to SKA is his chance.
– Indeed, earlier in the KHL there was an opinion that SKA collects strong players from other clubs, and they “dissolve” there. And now only newcomers to St. Petersburg show themselves great. Not only Khairullin, but also Nikishin became the rulers of SKA.
– The fact that Nikishin made a good start in SKA does not surprise me at all. Unlike Khairullin, Alexander has already managed to perform at a high level – he performed at the Beijing Olympics. So as far as his invitation to the SKA was concerned, the risk was much less. Nikishin appears to be younger than Khairullin, but he is much more experienced in performing at the top level.
“CSKA goalkeepers are of the wrong level”
– Against the backdrop of SKA’s victories, is it obvious that CSKA stumbled at the start? What’s wrong with the defending KHL champion?
“It’s really a surprise. Because both in the last games of the pre-season and in the first games of the championship, CSKA looked so powerful that they were directly impressive. It seems that the team is reunited later than everyone else, but it was in perfect order. But I think the post-champion syndrome still affects the Moscow army team. Well, their goalkeepers are not at that level now .
– The current CSKA goalkeepers do not show the class of the championship?
– They can’t show it, it’s not their level.
– It turns out that the army team needs to reinforce this line?
– I don’t know what the club’s management thinks about it, but I’ll think about it. And not now, but long before.
– The winners of the Gagarin Cup must not yield to Kunlun under any circumstances and with no goalkeeper.
– Here’s the story: on the one hand, everyone understands that the KHL teams have progressed, learned to play hockey, etc. But players always have the thought, “Well, what is Kunlun, now we’ll figure it out.” It’s just psychology. It is very difficult to listen to such an opponent. Therefore, such misfires will always be for everyone. It’s not about CSKA.
– Since we are talking about army goalkeepers, what do you think about the future of Ivan Fedotov? He withdrew his request for illegal conscription. Yes, it’s been almost three months. Will we see him on the ice this season?
– It is not known how the situation with Fedotov will develop. Clearly it has nothing to do with hockey. Something tells me that Ivan will serve for a year, then he will start training again.
– That means you can terminate his contract with Philadelphia?
– Ivan’s contract in the NHL is already, most likely, suspended. There is also a rule – if you do not come to training camp in September, the contract may be terminated. You can’t just break up, Philadelphia was waiting for September. The camp has started to work, Fedotov is not there, which means that his contract has been suspended.
“I see no reason for Shipachev not to reach his usual goalscoring level”
– The KHL top scorers list is headed by no less than four Avtomobilist forwards. Is Nikolai Zavarukhin’s team really the best attack in the championship?
“They are all competent guys. And when they come together and then boost each other’s stats, it’s no wonder. I’m especially happy for Shirokov. I always liked this striker, but I still didn’t think he would fit so well in the new team. And he immediately became a captain, and it is clear that Sergey leads the players. Avtomobilist can be congratulated on such an acquisition, they hit the mark.
– Shirokov is one of those players who needs the trust of a coach? In which it is imperative to see the leaders of the team and let them prove themselves in this role, otherwise they will fade?
– It’s true, the role of leader puts pressure on someone and inspires players like Shirokov. It is a psychology that must be taken into account.
– By the way, about psychology. Why did Shipachev suddenly collapse in Ak Bars? Last season’s top scorer isn’t even in the KHL’s top 30 most productive players anymore. On his account, not a single decisive pass.
“It’s a strange story. I have no explanation why Shipachev’s performance dropped so sharply. The fact that with such a composition Ak Bars in the majority did not score a single goal is just some kind of anomaly. But Kazan has a big plus – they score points even with a clearly bad game. It just speaks of a high class, that Ak Bars has a reserve. Because if they win with such a game, then when they have a majority, the “leopards” will be in perfect order.
– Will Shipachyov specifically improve his game?
– I don’t see any objective reason for Vadim not to reach his usual goalscoring level. If only a few injuries that we know nothing about. He is a strong player, he has strong partners. Maybe they won’t find “chemistry” in the link? Although now next to Shipachyov are the guys who once successfully played with him – Galiev, Kagarlitsky …
– Goalkeeper Emil Garipov moved to Neftekhimik. Will this solve the problem of Nizhnekamsk players, who have cashed the most in the KHL before?
– I do not think so. There is just a small intrigue that Garipov returns to Tatarstan. But I have already said more than once that the level that Emil showed in the playoffs, playing in Ak Bars several years ago, is not due to his personal skills, but to the highest organization of defense of Zinetula Bilyaletdinov’s team. After this season, Garipov was overrated. Everyone expects something from him and cannot wait.
– In Neftekhimik, the defense is clearly not the same as Bilyaletdinov had in Ak Bars.
– There’s a fire over there. And changing the goalkeeper is such a measure… It’s like rearranging the beds in the house. It seems like something new, but basically nothing has changed. They are now completely collapsed, they want to shake the team up with this. The problem is that Neftekhimik lost leaders who apparently meant a lot to the team. Oleg Leontiev is trying to play the same game that made Nizhnekamsk so successful last season, but now he has no one to do it. So I wish success to Garipov in the new team. But I doubt very much that it will radically change the situation.
Source : MatchTV
I am Sandra Jackson, a journalist and content creator with extensive experience in the news industry. I have been working in the news media for over five years. During this time, I have worked as an author and editor at various outlets producing high-quality content that attracts readers from different demographics.
