| IZMAILOV: I AM HAPPY IN SPORTING
The midfielder of Sporting Marat Izmailov does
not pity that he has not returned to Lokomotiv though this club is still
native for him.
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Marat Izmailov Photo SPORT EXPRESS
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In the three incomplete years in Lisbon Izmailov spent already
almost a hundred matches in different tournaments. He became not only
an idol of the supporters but the management of the club trusts him so
dearly that they would not part with him for love or money.
When in January the story with Lokomotiv being interested in the player
started the fans of Sporting gathered in front of the club's camp in order
to present Marat an album with photos, articles and songs devoted to him.
In the same album there was a huge list of supporters' signatures under
the title: 'Marat, do not leave!'
"I am really amazed with the attitude of the supporters", confessed
Izmailov. "And I actually did nothing special to achieve this".
"Because of the language barrier I rarely give interviews in the
Portuguese press and I never had a chance to communicate with the fans.
The only thing I always try to do is to enter the pitch and give myself
fully to a game or a training session".
"In Lokomotiv I also had good relations with the fans and got many
letters from them. But in Loko I was an insider and here I am foreign
and that is why such warm support is touching".
"There is nothing impossible in nowadays' football and I cannot exclude
the possibility of my returning to Lokomotiv. I know that the negotiations
were held on the level of clubs' top management. Though Sporting did not
really want to sell me".
"I am not disappointed that the agreement was not struck. I keep
on working hard at the trainings and doing my best in the matches trying
not to pay any more attention to all these things. I am happy in Sporting".
"For me both these options are good. Lokomotiv as well Sporting are
my native clubs. I am satisfied with everything in Lisbon but in the Semin's
team it would not be worse".
"I see that with Naumov and Semin the situation resembles the one
when Lokomotiv achieved its best results: both in Russia and outside".
"It is difficult to judge how Lokomotiv has changed since I left.
I keep in contact only with Sychev and Malkhaz Asatiani".
"I have not seen many matches of Loko. The only remarkable thing
is that I do not know more than the half of the team".
"I think that is the global tendency that the level of the championships
is rising and in Russia there are more than three candidates for the gold
but twice as many".
"And now the clubs are stronger. The current footballers got essential
experience of European cups in the games against competitors of top championship".
"It can be easily seen that our teams improved psychologically and
can feel confidently in the matches of Europa League and the Champions
League".
"As for me than I got valuable experience in a different championship
and European matches. Thanks to this I improved in all components of the
game. And as a person I have not changed".
Sport
Express Daily, 12 February 2010
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