Olga Smorodskaya: “Only free persons will give a result”

Lokomotiv president Olga Smorodskaya has visited the video studio of “Komsomolskaya Pravda” and answered the questions. We publish the text version of this interview.

We will fight for Round-32

- Let`s start from the last events. Lokomotiv has lost to Anderlecht suddenly. What was the reason of this defeat?

- It has several reasons. Firstly bad refereeing. In the Europa League referees should be more skilled then those who worked on our match. They made too much mistakes. I hope conclusions will be made. Secondly there were problems with realization of 100 percent chances. This is a component of football which we have to improve. There are very rare examples, when you create 14-15 chances to score. We had to realize our chances. It`s impossible to squander them. Unfortunately we have low realization of chances. Though I have to mention as well the lack of luck.

- What do you expect from future games in Europa League?

- We have to play four matches more in the group stage, and I don`t see the tragedy in our defeat from Anderlecht. We will definitely fight for Round-32.

In football it`s impossible to achieve result quickly

- There a lot of talks and articles about Anzhi last time. What do you think about this project?

- My opinion about this project is difficult. On the one hand it`s good that real football legends come to Russia. But it`s impossible in football to achieve high results quickly when you just buy expensive players. They should get accustomed to each other. Creating of top team isn`t an easy process. On the other hand a lot of scandals follow Anzhi.

- How do you think what will be in the final of this story?

- Will wait – will see. I`m not an author of this project. I`m sure that heads of the club were been thinking a lot about the strategy. However Dynamo used such way of development not so far. And that method, unfortunately, hadn`t brought the result. I wish fiasco to anybody. I`m for football development. It is nice if Anzhi will achieve it`s goals.

- Critics say that exaggerated projects never bring the success. Manchester City is a good example.

- It`s not the same. Serious money were been invested in Manchester City four years ago. A few years team didn`t achieve the necessary result. But now this club builds normal relations – the same as other participants of the football process in England. And today Manchester City has a result already. The team is in the top part of English Premier League. It doesn’t squander any more and develops step by step. And result is coming. But they have needed four years.

- The peculiarity of Anzhi is that they buy old stars and offer them the last big contract. Though the behaviour of Roberto Carlos excites the respect and admiration. But can we hope, that other west stars will work for their money for 100 percent?

- Yes we can. It`s very deep and serious question. It concerns psychology, medicine and adaptation in the country. Russia isn`t integrated in Europe yet. Touching Roberto Carlos, he is a unique person. He isn`t only a beautiful player but he is very clever and worth man as well. His coming is a win for all Russian football. But even he by himself doesn`t know how successful he will be in a role of playing coach. We will see. I wish a luck to Roberto Carlos.

Concerning old stars, it`s impossible to unite all cases. Some players want to show they are still capable of a lot. Others really just finish playing for their last contract and nothing more. All depends on personality.

- Were you surprised of the news about coach replacement in Anzhi?

- I understood that early or lately Suleiman Kerimov look into the situation very deeply. And he has done it.

I`m satisfied with our transfer work

- According to gossips there are different candidates for the place of Anzhi head coach – from Benites to Hiddink. They want to invite famous coach for their stars. Is it the right way? Is it really?

- I think it`s really.

- What was your motive when you chose Jose Couceiro?

- There a lot of demands for coach: beautiful football, deep understanding of psychology, new coach ideas, new methods. To divine for 100 percent is extremely difficult. It`s impossible to formalize this process and fully understand it. There is a very high percent of luck. It`s impossible just to want and to get a coach with descriptions, which are important for you, and definitely hit the mark. There is always a high probability of the mistake.

- When you have signed Couceiro, specialists and journalists have suggested their own version of such choice: Portuguese coach haven`t connections with Russian coaching community. Was it important for you?

- It`s a public version. Surely this fact had a significance, but not the main. Quite the contrary very little.

- Will you explain the reason of Krasnozhan discharge one day?

- You have to ask why Gadzhiev was fired. That`s enough to speak about Krasnozhan I think.

- Let`s speak about Lokomotiv transfer campaign. There are no questions about your signings – they play very good. But when they joined the team, most of supporters asked: “Who are these players?” How does Lokomotiv scout for new players?

- It`s a profession. The whole department in our club is responsible for this part of work. Yes, supporters don`t understand some moments. But they couldn`t be clear for wide range of the public. Supporters understand who are these players when they will see them on the pitch. Tevez and Rooney were young as well and nobody knew them. And Man United plays now with young players who are known for a few supporters. And plays brilliantly! It`s normally: at the beginning to be surprised “Who are they?” and then to have understood, who is who. That`s why supporters visit stadiums. It`s always an element of mysteriousness in football.  

- How did you like your summer transfer campaign?

- I`m satisfied.

- How much transfers should be successful that to say: “Everything was done good”.

- If you have hit the mark in 70 percnets from 100, this selection can be named very successful. I think no one club in the world, even top clubs, don`t achieve 100 percents and even 90 percents. It`s impossible to understand beforehand, how the adaptation to the team, country, players, coach will go. There are a lot of duifficulties. You can be ignored by team mates, you can face their distrust.

Cancellation of compensations will adversely affect our football

- One of the key factors in a transfer work of Russian clubs is a limit on foreign players. What do you think about it?

- Extremely negatively. Let`s remember the game against Anderlecht. We could put on this match more “foreign” squad, but our Russian players successfully cope the competition with foreigners. And this competition should be healthy. But when in Russian championship we must put in the squad specified quantity of players with Russian passport, even if they are fit worse, than their competitors, it depraves football.   

- But if we cancel the limit, Croatia, Serbia, Slovenia and other national teams will play in our country almost in a full squad.

- I don`t agree with this statement. All big clubs have their own football schools. We hope to raise the new generation. By the way I`m absolutely sure: all the last changes in the regulations, concerning young players, will kill our football. Clubs almost won`t get money for preparation of the player. It means that we will raise players only for ourselves. Usually there are only one-two players of the same age from the school who join the main team. So we will reduce the admission considerably, we will reduce graduation considerably, because we will loose the opportunity to get money for players which are graduated from our club. And who will raise players for first and second divisions in this case?  

- You raise players for first division and they are going away.

- They aren`t going away – they went away. But now they go away for free.

- But before they were sitting without job if they hadn`t found clubs.

- They didn`t sit. First and second division clubs bought them. For very small amounts of money, but anyway. And now you don`t have to buy. In this case what for I should raise them? Cancellation of compensations will adversely affect our football in 2-3 years. We won`t be able  to find players even for 10 teams.

We have to train supporters to watch football

- Now it`s difficult for supporters to choose a favourite team because of a big flow foreign players in Russian championship. All people supported the team of their district, of their city in the past. While now they have to support players from Brazil, Africa and East Europe.

- Whom do Chelsea fans support? How many English players are in Chelsea? People support team and club, but in Russian reality we have to put a problem in a different way: there is no problem in which team to support, but the real problem is that football has been loosing its popularity. Thank goodness that our match against Anderlecht was being broadcasted by the central TV channel – thanks indeed for this. But Rubin? It was impossible to find the broadcast of Rubin-PAOK. It`s because football is not popular enough. If we want to see supporters on the stadium, we have to train supporters to watch football.

- Russian supporters don`t visit stadiums often because it`s impossible to be there. I don`t mean Lokomotiv, your arena in terms of comfort is the best in Russia. But in other cities it`s a madness. You have to pass 50 cordons, find your place on the tribune, where something crazy happens. As a result the football moves away on the fifth place.

- You have given the right example, which shows the problem is not in the supporters. Our supporters are very good, it`s not terrifying to be on the Lokomotiv tribunes, because the are no fights, it`s comfortably on our stadium. But we can`t gather even 20 thousands supporters on our stadium, which is located inside Moscow. Our arena is very close to subway station, nobody humbles our supporters, they reach their seats very quickly. However supporters have lost the habit of visiting stadiums.

- Probably because now Russian teams don`t compete with each other – they compete with Barcelona and Chelsea, which are broadcasted on television, and with many other entertainments. We made a comparative table and football in a whole number of settings of indicators is located between zoo and bathhouse.

- On the other hand the attendance of football matches is growing in all over the world. In Germany, for example, the average attendance of stadiums is 47 thousands people. And I even don`t speak about England and Spain. The popularity of football doesn`t fall definitely.

- What we have to do to raise it in Russia?

- We have to analyze the situation deeply. If we bring very interesting team Anderlecht, and Lokomotiv shows good game last time, supporters should respond to it. We demonstrate an interesting football. Not successful always, but honest and good. I hope situation will change and supporters will go the stadiums. However not only clubs, but Russian Football Union and Russian Football Premier League should work on it. We have to tackle this problem seriously.

I don`t rule out that we can play in Luzhniki in a frost

- But how will supporters come to the stadiums, if Dynamo and CSKA, for example, play in Khimki. It`s very difficult to reach this suburb. By the way, did Moscow teams appeal to you about playing their home matches on Lokomotiv stadium?

- Appealed, and this possibility does exist. But very soon Spartak and CSKA will build their stadiums. I agree that it`s difficult to reach Khimki, but if we speak about football of high quality supporters can try a few and reach the stadium.

- The calendar time, when people had been visiting stadiums with wish, has finished. Now it`s cold on tribunes, it`s raining and it will be snowing soon. In this context what do you think about transition of Russian football on a system “autumn-spring”?

- If club plays in eurocups, it`s good. Team is in good conditions and in the same situation with European opponents. However this year we are promised severe winter. I`m waiting this time of year with caution and don`t rule out that we will play on artificial grass in Luzhniki, because it will be very cold. It`s possible to warm up artificial grass better than natural grass.

- Let`s continue the subject of transition on system “autumn-spring”. We have six clubs in eurocups. And what about others? Six clubs have outweighed other Russian football world?     

- I don`t think so. What does it mean “have outweighed”? Nobody visits stadiums in summer, all people are in dachas and on holidays. And when to play football? In summer I`m on holidays, but in autumn it`s cold.  

- Players want to have holidays as well in summer. I, for example, don`t know the team, which let its players be on vacations in summer.

- Why? During the break we gave to our players two weeks of rest. What is the duration of your holidays? All people, who work hardly and seriously, have a rest two weeks in succession as maximum. And if it`s one more week after during the year, it`s happiness.

- So the system “autumn-spring” will be useful for Russian football?

- I think yes.

- But only when stadiums and manages will have being built?

- Yes.

Our supporters breath together with game

- Where is the place of supporters in contemporary football? It seems like they think that club and players must something for them?

- We have to carry on a dialogue and understand what happens in supporters world. The feeling that we all must something to them exists indeed. But it means, that supporters aren`t indifferent. The indifference is the biggest sin. For example, when you pass on the street by lying man, to whom you can help and give a cardiac. If people aren`t indifferent it`s already not bad. I guess we have to change by opinions to understand each other better. Now it`s difficult to answer the question who is supporter. Touching Lokomotiv supporters they have overcome a big way. Our supporters culture is changing in a right and adequate direction. Supporters sing songs and beat drums on tribunes of Lokomotiv.

- In a right direction – it`s like in England or in Spain?

- In England. Our supporters breath together with game. They see what happens on the pitch and immediately react on it. It`s very good – the response is very nice.

- On the one hand, yes. Supporter has bought a ticket, come on the stadium, supported his team and gone back home – satisfied or not, it depends on result. But he pretends to voice in solving of club questions, though has made nothing for his team.

- In Germany the special system is launching now and supporters become shareholders of the club as well. But in Russia, I think, it will never work because it costs a lot of money. If supporter wants to buy ticket for 200 rubles or season ticket with discount it`s unlikely that he will become a shareholder. An if you aren`t a shareholder and simply sympathetic you can`t dictate your conditions. You can share your pain, express your opinion. Perhaps you will be right and you will have being heard. And we really listen to supporters. It`s important to listen to and to hear each other.

- Stadiums will have being built faster than supporters will have found their niche.

- The quantity of supporters should grow, supporters environment must increase. Our stadiums should be full. When there are many social groups, which have different age, family status and level of education, we will strive together for the best. Some people will catch up with the rest.   
Russian Football Union and Russian Football Premier League don`t consult with clubs

- Let`s hope, let`s hope. More sharp and unpleasant subject for all: why there are so many scandals in Russian football in this season? It`s a miracle if there is no scandal during the matchday.

- It means that there are illnesses in Russian Football Union and Russian Football Premier League, and illnesses which aren`t being cured.

- Is it possible to cure them?

- Yes it`s possible.

- Who should do it?

- Russian Football Union.

- To cure itself?

- No. The question is on whom to rely on, which people to attract. I have a feeling that Russian Football Union and Russian Football Premier League aren`t in need of clubs, their presidents and sport directors.

- Do they consult with you?

- No.

- Absolutely no?

- Absolutely no.

- But there are meetings, all clubs vote.

- There are meetings, but very rarely. Ok, we vote for the schedule. But when the second national team was created, we weren`t asked. No by direct mailing, no by email – in no way.

- So you live in your own world?

- Yes. And it creates a problem, which will grow definitely. We all work for the sake of one goal – football development in a positive direction. But if we want to correct problem questions we have to solve it. But we are not consulted and asked.

- Sometimes it seems, that decisions which make Russian Football Union, it`s impossible to understand their sense… Explain me, what did three clubs had written the letter about Welliton disqualification for?   

- You know, I don`t condemn these clubs because they try to struggle as well. We aren`t invited and asked. Not about different subjects, not on hearings, not on Control disciplinary committee – nowhere! We are unnecessary on this football fest.

- The statement because of despair.

- Because of despair. It`s the first question. Secondly the situation is very difficult indeed. Don`t touch the situation with Welliton – it`s very talked-up already, but let`s take a look at Torbinskiy, who was injured in the match against Volga. We have been curing him for 2 months already. He was injured very seriously. It was a conscious foul, but violator got only yellow card, though it was absolute red. The leg of Torbinskiy was being twisted. We have photos, but we don`t have rights absolutely and can do nothing.

- Do you have leverages?

- Now, after precedent with Welliton, if injury is intentional, we can ask to examine the situation. Because all actions against Torbinskiy were absolutely conscious. He was being wanted to break on 12th minute to take out him from the pitch.

- I think there a lot of players in Lokomotiv who are wanted to break.

- That`s why they are knocked and we`re curing now many of them.

I work for club`s good and people have started to notice it

- Why do Anzhi get in scandalous situations so often? Or had been getting during the first three months.

- The success has turned their heads. It`s possible and to visit referees, and drop door frame. Nobody allows it to themselves, there shouldn`t be contacts with referee during the match – regulations prohibit it.

- Team has everything: money, players. Play normally, win. What for to do all these? Absolutely impossible to understand.

- You know, sometimes despair comes. You work, endeavour, you have good players and you should find guilty. I also very want to find guilty in the match with Anderlecht. We had started from it. Perhaps we will finish by it. But if we don`t realize our moments, it means that we are guilty as well, the problem isn`t only in the refereeing. Football is a man`s game, you should be able to keep yourself in check, you have to control emotions and live according to regulations.   

- Olga Yurievna, I read a lot of interviews with you. There are a lot of gender jokes: how does woman feel herself in a man`s role. Are you tired from these questions?   

- You know, I`m tired, but I haven`t being asked about it for a long time. Only you have asked. This topic has calmed down already.

- Why?

- I don`t know. Perhaps I work for club`s good and people have started to notice it.

- How Valeiry Georgievich Gazzaev told: “I have already proved everything to everybody”.

- I don`t think so. I have been proving all my life.

I was shaken by the story of Ivan Tkachenko

- There are a lot of conventions in our world. There is a separating line on the road – and it`s prohibited to cross it, and it doesn`t matter if it`s a traffic jam. For usual people, I mean. And football, perhaps, is a convention in the cube. For example, do you want to laugh or do you feel an absurdity when you understand that you can`t choose clothes of some colours.

- No. I can`t – and that`s it. I`m easy in my mind about it.

- It`s a story about Rotor president Vladimir Goryunov, who hated red colour. He even banned his players to wear read. Is it normally?

- No.

- Is it an illness?

- It is an illness. I think that it`s impossible to achieve the result by prohibitive measures and hard orders. The result is possible only when person is free and wants it. You have to make such conditions that people want to get a result. For this you have to infect and astonish them. To make conditions, to make an idea, club`s psychology. In this case you won`t have to order, point out, say strictly. All people will want.

- How it`s possible to motivate modern players? It is considered, that they are professionals, they have a contract and they work for it. To say them special speeches? To read verses, like Starostin? How it`s possible to influence on them?

- You know professionals are not robots. Professional, like all normal people, have successes and falls. Everything can happen. That is why football is beautiful. If everything is like watches, it will be a clockwork and nobody visit stadiums. You know, there are a lot of variations of the game. A lot depend on emotions and skills. That is why football is a great and mystery game, which have being played for 150 years already.  

- You definitely heard the story about hockey player Ivan Tkachenko, who transferred very huge amounts of money for charity. Were you amazed by this story?

- It has shaken me. Usually young people very rarely do a charity. When you are young you have an easy perception of life and don`t notice people close to you live the other life. You are young, strong, you are in favour, you make everything in your profession. But his soul was organized very subtly, he had got a beautiful upbringing, education. It means a lot, when so huge amounts are transferred under the pseudonym. I was shaken.

- It`s a stereotype now, that modern big and successful sportsmen are egoists. And here is a such story.

- Chulpan Khamatova and Dina Korzun have created a fund. But they have become mothers, they understood that there are problems in life sometimes, and they saw them. But this story has shaken me absolutely.

- Are there people among your familiar sportsmen, who are able for the same or, may be, already do it?

- A lot. I did a charity, a big part of my life I had devoted to it. And it`s very pity that we have such a stereotype about charity funds like «It`s unknown for whom these money are collecting”. In fact many people help anonymously, secretly. They simply go, extinguish fires, dress children, cure and don`t make PR actions. There are many funds already which were created by usual people who do very good work and cure our children. I think it`s inadmissible in the state not to cure all the children for free – with heart and cancer problems.

- I agree with you. Thank you very much for this interview, Olga Yurievna.

- Thank you.