Yesterday a Sport Express correspondent met with a famous Dutch professional
who is about to head Spartak Moscow.
Late evening Michael Laudrup arrived in Moscow on Friday
- the candidate number one for the position of the head coach in Spartak.
On Saturday the 44-year old Dutch talked with the chairman of Spartak,
Leonid Fedun. And yesterday Laudrup together with his family - his wife,
son and daughter - met he general director Valery Karpin in the hotel.
There the interview with Michael took place.
"I cannot say that everything is settled," said Laudrup. "The
final decision I will make in the next few days. But the chances are quite
high though I prefer to wait till all matters are settled."
"The first problem is football itself. It is important to understand
what the team have and want. Secondly, there are some questions that are
important to my family. What will the life be in Russia? Will it be comfortable
for my wife, what school will my daughter attend:"
"I was in Moscow on the Champions League final in May and saw how
the city has changed. But I did not think then that I would come here."
"I scored four times in the friendly on Red Square, and when Karpin
phoned me, thought he was going to invite me as a player," laughs
Michael.
"For me it is important that in Spartak there are people who played
abroad (Karpin, Ledyakhov and Popov), especially in Spain. I do not know
Russian but it is not the main factor. We have the same set of mind, we
love the same kind of football. And that matters a lot."
"Igor Ledyakhov has all the qualities to be in my coaching staff
if the contract is signed. He knows Russian football, used to play in
Spartak and in Spain."
"About Spartak I know that it is the biggest and most popular club
in Russia as Real Madrid or Barcelona in Spain. I also know that for the
last several years they haven't won as much as their supporters wish.
Of course they want to regain lost positions. Supporters demand the Spartak
play to be attacking and entertaining and I am used to such an approach
and quite understand them."
The final decision about Laudrup's joining Spartak is to be made today
or tomorrow.
