KARPIN EYES THE COMING SEASON

The head coach of Spartak Valeriy Karpin spoke to sport press ahead of the start of the Russian Premier League season-2010.


The general director of the Red-Whites became its head coach instead of Michael Laudrup less than a year ago. it happened after the loss to Dynamo 0:3 on 15 April. And it is against Dynamo they are starting this season.

"I think I have enough information about Dynamo," said Karpin. "Both defence and wings of the opponents are clear. Though there are some alternatives in the middle-field: Khokhlov, Rebko, Wilkshire, Ropotan. Probably they will play a scheme with two forwards: Voronin and Kokorin."

"But I can imagine that even Kobelev does not for sure the names of the eleven players of the starting lineup."

"At the training camp in Turkey we saw two sparrings of Dynamo. And when now the clubs of the Premier League lose to clubs of lower Divisions that does not imply they are in disorder."

"I do not think they were disguising. Probably players psychologically did not risk realizing that there is no time for rehabilitation in case of an injury."


"I hope that my team is 100% ready for the season. The coming game will show it. One can look splendid at the trainings but at the stadium with 50 thousand supporters success depends more on one’s head than on physical form."

"You must be stronger not always but on a certain day and in certain time. In our case it is 14 March from 7 to 9 p.m. and after 9 it does not matter."

"Dynamo played well against Spartak last year and snatched four points. In the match that ended with a draw the game was equal. But in Luzhniki we were not meant to lose: we were better in our play and had many scoring chances."

"Though I think Dynamo had a different point of view on that match. But we conceded a goal in that match."

"The aspect of a goal is very important. Why did Barcelona lose to Rubin though they shot many times on target and the Kazan team almost nothing? Because one team scored and the others failed."

"Sometimes that depends on the luck or some players who do not do their best. But nobody is going to say that Rubin is stronger than Barcelona in general and even in that match. But the Spanish team lost."