Stanislav Cherchesov: “are we criticized? We consider this a discussion»

— I am pleased that after conceding the ball, we immediately began to play as we originally planned, – said Cherchesov at a press conference. — But we started too impressively, got involved in the game. And at this level you need to be ready from the first seconds. What we planned, we accomplished. We had enough chances but didn’t score. I am glad that we won, I am glad that the team showed character. But in a couple of days we have the next match, we will prepare for it.

– Tell us about your decision to release Zhirkov. Turns out he’s fine.

— We saw that it is in very good condition. The last match at the club showed it. If you paid attention, today guys of well-played on their edges, not shifting in center. The Scots are playing edges, we had to close them. Crowned this match he gets. So this move paid off. We all say age-age that he is 26 years old. But we are in contact, we talked several times. He knows what to do at that age. As the saying goes, our players we must use correctly, not look how many them years.

— Why did you change Zobnina? Is he tired?

“No, I can’t say he’s tired. The Scots started to own the initiative and Roma had a yellow card. In such games it is better to hedge. If there was no yellow card, he would have played for 15 minutes.

September 6. Glasgow. Scotland-Russia-1: 2. Mario Fernandez: how to get to Euro 2020?
Russia can qualify for the Euro in the second leg against Scotland on October 10
— This victory is another response to critics who have become more active recently?

— We take it not as a criticism, but as a discussion. After all, how many people, so many opinions. We were preparing specifically for the matches against Scotland and Kazakhstan, just doing our job. We are glad that our actions are in sight all the time. So, we are not indifferent. Even the critical articles that come out, we analyze and find the right grain in them. In General, we are engaged in the business.

— Can we say that if the Scots have several players from the NPL, our guys against them showed the goods and proved their level and the level of the Russian Premier League?

— I always say that my players are the best. And today they were the best for me. Everyone knew his maneuver, so we beat the opponent. Who was looking at us, he can draw their own conclusions. I vouch for my players, that’s why I have them and play, I believe in them.

– Can we say that we have one foot already on the Euro?

— We have 12 points, our opponent has six. Five games remain, I said at a press conference yesterday that there are still 15 points in the draw. So this match says nothing. There will be a return match against Scotland in Moscow. Today we approached the game in a businesslike way, took our three points. Now we have to prepare for the next game, believe me, it’s not simple words, but our approach to business. We will be happy when the tournament is over, and we will be at the place where we want.

Alexander Kokorin and Pavel Mamayev.
Without football, their freedom is a prison. Kokorin and Mamaev, rather on the field!
— Pleased with the release of Kokorin and Mamaev? Is there any chance they could be called up to the national team ever?

– I’m glad they’re free. I didn’t talk about it much. Even then he said that they were too strictly approached, even though they violated public order. Let’s wait until they get back to normal and start playing. We never gave up on anyone before your eyes. We’re all human, we’re all wrong. Cutting a person out of life is the worst. I didn’t talk about it, not because I didn’t want to, but because I didn’t see the point.