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Syomin: The title? Don't put the cart before the horse.

Lokomotiv head coach Yuriy Syomin has summarized the victory over Zenit (3:0) and the results of the first leg of the championship.

- We are happy. The last time we beat Zenit in St Petersburg was in 2004 when we won the title. Probably, it is symbolic. We could stand up to the pressure Zenit was putting on us in the first half. The hosts had many opportunities but Guilherme and the defenders saved. The second half was ours. I can only thank the guys for implementing the masterplan, we had worked hard on it Thanks for the commitment. Everyone's been terrific today!

- What did you say in half-time?

- Nothing special. Commented on play. Made some corrections.

- You used to give careful comments about the title race before the game. Are you more optimistic now?

- I'm an optimist but let's not put the cart before the horse. It's just the end of the first leg. It's important that the atmosphere in the dressing-room is great. We understand what we are doing and where we are going. Only Octopus Paul knew everything ahead, but he's long been dead now.

- However, can Lokomotiv become champions?

- I trust every player in my team. Considering ther commitment during trainings I say we have grounds to hope for it.

- Did you expect Dzyuba would start the game?

- One player doesn't make big difference. But we bore in mind he could start. Zenit play crosses more than any other team in the championship so somebody needs to be a target man. Today we managed to counter their crosses and that was one of the important points we asked the players to pay attention to.

- In the first half made signs and appealed to the referees. Do you have anything to say to them?

- It's just emotions. Emotions make football. The team put their sould into playing and are happy. The emotions allow us to advance. It's the same with us, coaches. I cannot remember now what I've been saying to the referees.

- An international break is coming. How do you keep the pace?

- It is a big problem not only for us. Farfan is to fly to Peru and New Zealand, and then back to Russia. There's only one recipe - and it's work.

пресс-служба ФК «Локомотив»
29 October 2017 19:02