Syomin: We didn't play our best in the end

Lokomotiv head coach Yuriy Syomin summarized the away game against Akhmat (1:1) of Gameweek 9 of the ROSGOSSTRAKH Russian Championship.

- It's always difficult to play in Grozny. But we didn't have many problems up to the 60th minute. Akhmat made substitutions that added edge, and everntually we failed to match them. Probably, a point is a step forward, too. It's difficult to have all 11 footballers equally fit after many of them had played international matches. We didn't play our best in the end. We made substitutions to catch up with the pace but failed.

- What do you think of the pitch?

- It was not ideal but okay to play. I think it should be replaced soon.

- Why didn't Rybus play?

- He has some issues with the calves. He wanted to play but risked to tear it and opt out for a long time, so we decided to keep him for now.