Sergey Lavrentyev: “The level of the Super League is growing every year”

— The match against "Zenit" concluded the first round of the Super League. What are your impressions of the game against the Russian champion?

— Actually, my impressions are mixed. If you look at how the match unfolded, it could have gone either way. Both we and "Zenit" had our chances, but the opponent took advantage of theirs, and we did not. This is a sign of the class of players who can decide a single episode in the match and bring it to completion.

What I didn't like – we conceded two goals, didn't score, and in this component "Zenit" surpasses everyone. After all, they have conceded only one goal by the end of the first half of the championship, which says a lot. We, on the other hand, have questions to answer.

— By the championship break, "Dynamo" approached with three defeats in four matches, all against direct competitors for medals. In your opinion, what did not work out in the games against CSKA, "Spartak", and "Zenit"?

— We lacked attacking actions everywhere. Before the match with CSKA, we paid a lot of attention to defense and basically did not allow the opponent to create anything. We conceded from a set piece, but unfortunately, we created nothing in attack.

With "Spartak", the story is similar. Mostly, we were stuck in the midfield, the opponent was more focused on the attack, so they managed to win. Against "Zenit", we showed more aggression, but unfortunately, we did not capitalize on our moments. These factors contribute to understanding why we lost these three encounters.

— At the same time, all the above-mentioned matches showed that it is possible and necessary to fight against the leaders, they do not have a total advantage. How can you beat the favorites?

— In such matches, a lot is decided by individual skill. In these kinds of games, there will never be many chances, but you need to capitalize on the episodes you create. This was demonstrated in the match for the Winline Super Cup between CSKA and "Zenit", where one episode decided the outcome of the meeting. The same thing happens with us.

Well, and reliability in defense. If a team doesn't concede, it always gives a chance to find one moment at the opponent's goal to win the match.

— If we go back to the beginning of the season, Dynamo got off to a very strong start, winning seven wins in eight opening matches. What do you attribute such a confident start to?

— I attribute it to the fact that all the players who came to us before the start of the season were in optimal shape. No one had injuries or damage. Then there was a streak of injuries - Kubichnaya and Dricheva dropped out, and these are the players who determine both attacking actions and calmness in defense. Pamen Tchato, who missed a lot of time due to injury and has not yet regained shape, has recovered. It is with these moments that we associate the fact that we began to distort the composition. Accordingly, if you remove a strong player from one position and put him in another, a hole appears.

— Based on the results of the first half of the season, Dynamo is in fourth place, with Super League newcomer Spartak breathing down their necks. Did you expect such a game from the red and white?

— Of course, I expected it. “Spartak” carried out a large-scale and powerful selection and continues to do so. This did not come as a surprise to me, so everything that is happening now in the standings is probably natural.

— Are you satisfied with how the newcomers fit into the team?

— We were very careful about selection and approached specific positions in a targeted manner. We understood who we wanted to take. We also understood what we would miss over the long haul. Everything, in principle, was confirmed.

— When can we expect injured players to return to action?

— Unfortunately, only next year. The missing players, Kubichnaya and Dricheva, are undergoing a long recovery from injuries. We lost them before the new season.

— Which match did you like more in terms of quality, which one less?

— There are different games. It's hard to name a better or worse match. I can’t say that we had a bad game with Zenit, but we lost. Everyone celebrates our game against Lokomotiv, but the tactical scheme worked well there, the girls executed it well, we found our quick attacks.

In general, before the loss of players, we had an even and stable game that we showed on the field.

— What does the team need to improve in order to confidently spend the rest of the season?

— The first is aggression. We were not so aggressive, this was especially shown in the matches with the leaders. You also need to add offensive power and defensive reliability.

— Who surprised you in the first round of the Super League? Which team jumped above its head?

— Nobody was surprised. Everyone is where they were supposed to be. For me, this was all, in principle, clear even before the start of the championship.

Krasnodar's high place was expected. This team is progressing every year. The only thing is that Ryazan has stalled, although they have a good selection of players. They are playing well, but so far they are gaining few points. The same story with Rostov.

— The level of rivalry and competition in the Super League is growing every year. How would you describe the 2024 Super League?

— Many teams show their teeth. The championship is no longer a struggle between three clubs; each team confidently plays with the leader and provides him with worthy resistance. It is clear that somewhere the result turns out differently, but the fact is that there are no easy matches anymore and you can’t say who will definitely score points. Each opponent fights, fights, and the level of the championship grows.

— There is a match ahead of the 1/8 finals of the Winline Russian Cup with the “Football Academy” from Tambov. What do you think about the opponent and this game?

— We know this team well. “Football Academy” is the strongest team that does not participate in the Super League. She has always been unyielding and tenacious, so we don’t expect an easy walk.

— The game will take place in an indoor arena. Will this somehow affect the preparation and the match itself?

— I was not in this arena, so it’s hard for me to comment on the situation. If in the Krasnoyarsk arena there are air conditioners and ventilation and it’s comfortable to play, then it’s hard to say what it will be like in Tambov.

— What are the team’s plans for the pause in the championship?

— At the moment we are focused on the cup match, preparing for it. After Tambov, we will give the team four days off, and then we will continue preparing for the start of the second round of the Super League.

— Do you follow European club women’s football? Which championship do you like the most?

“I try to keep an eye on it as much as possible.” I won’t say that I’m directly deeply immersed in this topic, but I look at what’s possible. If I don’t have time, I’ll find out from the news. Basically, of course, these are matches of the Women's Champions League.

— What should ideal football be like in your opinion?

— It seems to me that ideal football does not exist. If they invented it, everyone would copy it and play it perfectly. In any case, I clearly understand that now the level of players is growing, their performance skills, athleticism, ball handling, and ball control are growing.

European football is moving, we are also moving in this direction, but to a lesser extent.