Renat Yanbaev: “Lokomotiv is a my team”

Renat Yanbaev is one of the old residents of the team. He has been playing for Lokomotiv for 4 years already. But there is nothing from celebrity in him. He is still a boy, who isn`t spoiled by money and who does very good for Lokomotiv.

Coaches marked me out since childhood

- Renat, you look very modest for a player.

- May be. I can`t judge. Perhaps, I have to be more impudent sometimes.

- Did modesty hinder you in the life?

- Not very much. Most part of my life passes on a football pitch.

- I should say that on the pitch you definitely show your sport temper.

- Football is the other life. On a football pitch everything is different. It`s impossible to achieve the result without a temper here.

- How quickly do you find the common language with people?

- All depend on a person. If interlocutor is adequate – there are no problems.

- You are very fast and, probably, you could achieve good results in the athletics. Why have you decided to play football? Because you dreamed to earn a lot?

- I didn`t think about money at all. I joined the football, when there were no so huge amounts, like now. My choice was determined by sincere love to football. I enjoyed the football when I played in my court and with the same pleasure I played in a football school.

- Did you stand out against a background of others or you were like all others?

- Coaches marked me out. In the childhood they told me that I have bents but I should endeavour. And I endeavoured.

- And how about teenagers` activities? Not everybody can refuse from mundane joys.

- For me it was easy to think just about football. Firstly parents watched me strictly and set their hopes on me, so I couldn`t let them down. Secondly I didn`t have dubious friends, so I had been growing up as sportsmen and used to restrictions since childhood. 

I`m on my place

- Perhaps, with such speed you wanted to run forward, to score goals?

- I started as a forward and scored a lot. When I was 15 years old coaches transferred me to midfield. And Yakovenko in 2005 in Khimki decided to try me in defense. And I was good. In 2006 I played as left or right defender.

- Do you regret that now you are defender?

- No. I`m on my place.

- But you score very rarely.

- I have the other aim – not to allow our opponents to score and to help our strikers to score.

- Were you upset when you couldn`t score your first goal for Lokomotiv for a long time?

- Frankly speaking, I have never thought about it. And I didn`t torment myself. When I scored goal recently I even hadn`t thought immediately that it`s my first goal for Lokomotiv.

I want to play in the national team

- In the national team your things are going with variable success.

- I don`t despair. For sure like any normal player I want to play in the national team, but only the head coach should make decisions. .

- Anyway you already have a bronze medal of Euro-2008 in your collection.

- We had a strong, cohesive team, which played in the semi-final deservedly. It was a quite pity that I didn`t play then but anyway now it`s very pleasant to remember about that time.

I need to work a lot for being in the main squad

- Before coming to Lokomotiv you played for many teams.

- I studied in CSKA football school. When I had understood that I don`t have a chance to join the main squad and variant with Makhachkala appeared, I agreed. After that I returned to CSKA and in 2004 I played for their Youth team. Then Khimki, then Kuban and in 2007 I moved to Lokomotiv.

- I guess now you don`t regret that you appeared exactly in Lokomotiv?

- Not in the least. This is my team, where I have found myself. I hope, club also needs me.

- No doubts, you`re one of the key players of the team.

- Thank you for good words, I need to work a lot for being in the main squad. And to prove, prove, prove. During the trainings, during the matches.

- Which the most impressive games of Lokomotiv can you mark out?

- Win over Spartak 4:3 in 2007, many derbies with CSKA, last match against Zenit.

Atmosphere in the team depends on all of us

- In my time I had been watching the life of many leading Russian teams, and I want to say, that atmosphere in today`s Lokomotiv is one of the best. Do you feel it?

- I agree absolutely. Now we have the most cohesive and friendly team since my coming to Lokomotiv. Whose desert? I think it`s not about one hero. Atmosphere in the team depends on all of us. We have a friendly team and there is no place for intrigues. We have a calm and reputable captain, who can spur and put on the right place. Strict, but friendly coach, we now work more with balls on the trainings and it makes us glad. Fair and exacting president, who introduces proper order in the club by a firm hand and at the same time she treats players very warmly.

- We have got a very proper interview. Are you able to perform an imprudent action?

- It was not long ago. I jumped from planked footway by acrobatic roll and entered the water unsuccessfully, struck and even was a few afraid. After that I have decided that I don`t want such adventures in the future.

- Are you still a boy in your soul?

- A little bit. Parents sometimes say that I have to grow up, but for me it`s comfortable to live in a such state. I don`t want to change myself specially, I let things to take its normal course.

- I wish you good luck.

- Thanks. I hope the luck won`t leave not only me, but and the whole Lokomotiv.