Ratibor Gusar: I still want to score

The young defender has told us about his way to Lokomotiv and resolved the fans' argument about the correct pronunciation of his last name.

– Let's start with the fans’ big question: Gusar - where's the stress?

- On the first syllable. I inherited this name from my Kuban ancestors. In Kuban, people pronounce it correctly but here in Moscow and in other cities the locals tend to stress the last syllable. I was born in Oktyabrskiy, it’s a town in Bashkortostan, not far from Ufa.

When I was about to progress to the second grade the parents decided to move to Moscow. Two years later I started attending the Burevestnik Football School that’s near the Botanicheskiy Sad.

Then I was viewed by CSKA but didn’t manage to stay there. Now I understand I didn’t show good-quality play back then. Then there was a training camp with Burevestnik, and the invitation to Spartak. After half-a-year at Spartak I found myself at Lokomotiv-2, and later at Lokomotiv.

– Was a defender your first role here?

– Yes, but pretty often I played in attack. Then at some moment the Loko-2 coaches found they have a lack of defenders and pulled me back again.

– How about scoring goals?

– I still want to score goals, of course. But I got used to playing in defence and feel quite comfortable here.

– Tell me five main qualities a defender must have.

– Reliability, aerial strength, speed… Everything that would prevent the attackers from getting close to the goal.

– Are you succeeding?

– It’s difficult but I’m working hard. Alas, they shoot at our goal and score…

– Another reason for it must be that you transition period from the school to the youth team is still underway?

– When they took me to the training camp I immediately felt the speed is totally different here: you have to think fast and make decisions in a split second. While you’re trying to cover an attacker he can find the opportunity to strike. So I had to find a new approach. I didn’t have to go through an adaptation period as such - I knew most of the guys here. When I was failing to do something at a practice or during a game the older players used to come up and explain how to do right. They helped me.

– If the environment’s good, why is the result mediocre?

– (Sighs.) It’s hard to say for sure. We have a lot of very young guys like me, who haven’t yet caught up with the rest of the team. Plus we have many internationals. In the game against Mordovia everything was going smoothly up to the moment when the back four made a mistake and allowed them to score. The age gap is sensitive. But at this level, I don’t think I should look for excuses. We have to scrutinize ourselves.

– In the Q&A list you mentioned that you like ice-hockey. Have you played it yourself?

– I used to in the childhood. Today I watch the KHL and the national team’s games. By the way, when we moved to Moscow I could have become a hockey player but the coaches told my father I was too old to start. That’s how I switched to football.

– Why did you initially go to CSKA? Did you sympathize with them?

– Of course not! (Laughs). The thing is that there’s a Big Five in Moscow: CSKA, Spartak, Dynamo, Chertanovo, and Lokomotiv. At that time, the Railwaymen were fully staffed, they were the leaders among the rest. So I tried my luck where I had more chances.

– Did you manage to make friends with Denis Nikitin at CSKA? He spent quite a while there.

– No, we didn’t meet. I only met Mostovoy, he trained there for four years.

– Do you have a big football dream?

– My first goal for now is to become a regular pick at the youth team, then at the main team. As for the future… I’d like to play at Chelsea.

– Wow! Who’s your role model there?

– John Terry! One of the best defenders in England! He’s really hard to get through. Even despite his moderate speed his positioning skills are outstanding, they help save his team from troubles.

– Here’s a traditional question: why should people come to see the youth team’s games?

– Every one of us grows up here. Every one dreams of playing at the main team. We love this club! The examples of Barinov, Makarov, and the Miranchuk brothers show that there’s nothing impossible. We try to demonstrate good play, try to attack. When there’re fans at the stands you feel different. Because we play for the fans!

Ratibor Gusar. Q&A List.

Date of birth: 11.10.1997
Growth: 185
Weight: 72 kg
Favourite stadium: Lokomotiv
If not football, then: ice-hockey.
Favourite city: Saint Petersburg
Favourite actor/actress: Jennifer Aniston
Favourite music: Rock or club
Favourite vacation destination: Turkey
Favourite dish: a croquette with mashed potatoes
Favourite drink: orange juice
Hobby: Play Station
Car: Lamborghini
Motto: Reach your goals