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KOLYVANOV: WE NEED TO EASE TO THE OLYMPICS
Russian youth team new head coach Igor Kolyvanov visited the Sport
Express office yesterday.
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Igor Kolyvanov Photo SPORT
EXPRESS
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Igor Kolyvanov has been appointed to the post of Russian
youth team head coach in November. Yesterday former well-known forward
visited the Sport Express editorial and answered the journalists' questions.
"I signed a contract with the Russian Football Union last week",
said Kolyvanov. "I will be at the helm of the youth team for two
years of European championship qualifying campaign. If our achievements
are satisfactory, I hope my contract will be extended. Our main goal is
to reach the final stage of the competition and grab one of the first
three places there, which will give us a spot at the Olympic games in
London in 2012".
"Undoubtedly this task will be very hard to realize, because there
are so many strong teams in Europe, for example England, Germany, Italy,
France, Spain and Holland. Lets wait for results of the draw, which will
take place at the beginning of February. We will plan our preparations
according to the teams, which will be our challengers in the group, so
that we will choose opponents for friendly games in March, June and August".
"We have approximately 70 candidates to the national team, including
boys who were born in 1989, 1990 and 1991, while 25-35 players have already
proved their worth. It's better for me is they have constant practice
in Premier League clubs. I think that 20-year-old players already can
perform at high level".
"We don't have any problems in attacking line, since Ryzhov, Dzyuba,
Prudnikov, Smolov and Kokoriv have been playing in Premier League teams.
At the same time we suffer shortage of left defenders".
"Alan Dzagoev is candidate to the Russian national team, so we won't
cap him for our matches. By the way, one of my tasks is preparing youngsters
for the country's first team. If youth team brings up two or three new
stars, I will be very pleased".
"When I returned to Russia, I didn't have any coaching experience.
I began working with young players, and it turned to be very interesting".
"Every coach has his own method. For someone it's better to ask others
for help, but I have never done it. I stick to other method, as I'd better
make mistake by myself, rather than make mistake after consulting with
someone. Of course it doesn't mean that I don't communicate with my colleagues.
We often discuss different issues with them, but the final decision is
made by those who are responsible for result".
Sport
Express Daily, 16 Dec 2008
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