Postseason press conference 2024/2025
25.03.2025
Today at Neftekhim Arena Neftekhimik Director General Igor Larionov, Neftekhimik Head Coach Oleg Leontyev, Neftekhimik Sports Director and Reaktor Head Coach held a press conference on the results of the 2024–2025 season.
Igor Larionov:
About the past season
According to the results of the regular championship of the 2024–2025 season, we took ninth place in the Eastern Conference with 67 points. In 68 game, we won 20 in regulation time, 22 tie games, 2 overtime wins, 3 – shootout wins, 7 times lost in shootouts, 10 times lost in overtime.
Neftekhimik did not make playoffs, and Reaktor did not reach the play–in. There are both objective and subjective reasons that affected our work. Nevertheless, we are not satisfied with the results of our teams.
In the near future, we will conduct a more detailed analysis of the teams' performance, analyze the mistakes, and draw conclusions. After that, a decision will be made on the coaching staff, and then on the players. The relevant information will be published on our official website and the Club's social networks. In this regard, I would like to ask you not to raise the issue of the coaching staff and players until a decision is made.
About the club's support
In summing up the season, I would like to note the attention, support and assistance of our shareholders, represented by SIBUR and Nizhnekamskneftekhim, and express my deep gratitude to them. Thanks to our shareholders, a lot has been done this season. We have already talked about the major renovation of our locker rooms, bathrooms at both arenas, and the recovery center. We feel this support constantly. It allows us to look forward with confidence and build our work for the future.
About game attendance
This season, 106.715 fans attended home games, including schoolchildren and secondary specialized educational institutions, and students of the Neftekhimik Hockey School.
This season, we have changed our approach to organizing games. Hockey should compete not only with other sports, but also with other services, such as cinemas and shopping centers. In other words, hockey should also become a place where you can spend family time. We adjusted the program so that there would be more entertainment in Nizhnekamsk. Therefore, we began to pay attention to holding games with a thematic focus.
The highlights were games in the Russian style, Tatar style, "Mom is always in first place", "Chemistry between us", "Ecogame", "Fire game", "Operation wolves", "Caring game", held jointly with our partner "Pari", and others.
Special attention was paid to the thousandth KHL game for Neftekhimik. We managed to make beautiful helmets with gold paint for the players. About two million rubles, earned from their sale, were donated to the center of work with people with disabilities. It turned out to be a large–scale charity event. A total of 61,411 fans took part in 15 thematic games.
About connections with cities and districts of Zakamye
The season ended for us the day before yesterday. We let the guys go until April 14. These days, installation work begins on installing the New Video Cube in the ice arena bowl. On April 14, the team will gather for further training and work. We will involve a large group of players from Reaktor, hockey players sent to Izhstal, in this process. During the training cycle, we plan to hold two friendly games – in Naberezhnye Chelny and Yelabuga, master classes with the participation of our leading players in Mendeleyevsk, Menzelinsk, Mamadysh, Chistopol, Zainsk. I would like to note that over the past 5-6 years, we have developed very close and fruitful relations with these municipalities. Residents, parents with children who study in local hockey schools, have started coming to our matches.
About gratitude to the fans
Any sports competitions, including hockey, exist exclusively for the fans. Neftekhimik is an important part of Nizhnekamskneftekhim, the city of Nizhnekamsk. Neftekhim Arena is a place of attraction for our fans, who are rightfully considered the sixth field player of the team.
We are very grateful to them for their support, for the fact that they are always with us – both in moments of joy and when we have a hard time. It should be noted that in recent years, and this season in particular, fans have begun to travel to support Neftekhimik in other cities. In all away matches, we noticed fans with our attributes in the stands and actively rooting for us. The fan club traditionally accompanies us not only in all nearby cities. Not so long ago, they rooted for us from the stands of the arena in Yaroslavl. Fans from the first sector attend our team's games in Moscow, Nizhny Novgorod, Yekaterinburg and other distant cities. In late February and early March, three Neftekhimik fans made it to Khabarovsk and Vladivostok on their own. And you could hear how actively they root for us.
On behalf of Neftekhimik organization, I would like to thank all our fans for their support!
About interaction with the media
I sincerely want to thank the media for the great work they do to popularize hockey and our Neftekhimik. I mean not only the positive aspects that you reflect in your publications, posts, TV and radio broadcasts, but also critical materials, comments, and remarks. Constructive criticism, although few people like it, is no less useful than laudatory articles. It helps us to pay attention to our weaknesses, correct shortcomings, and work on mistakes.
Unfortunately, sometimes we encounter such phenomena when an outright lie or an unsuccessful joke is spread in the Internet space.
It is very sad to realize that for the sake of hype or for other reasons, first one author gave the head coach two games to correct the situation, and then "according to his information" Neftekhimik played the last match with Admiral with the coach on the bridge for the sake of form, and the hockey players were promised a triple bonus for the victory.
I am addressing the media with a huge request. We are always open for communication. If you are interested in something regarding our club, call. We are always in touch. We will answer all your questions. And then draw conclusions and write as you think it should be.
Q&A
Any sports competitions, including hockey, exist exclusively for the fans. Neftekhimik is an important part of Nizhnekamskneftekhim, the city of Nizhnekamsk. Neftekhim Arena is a place of attraction for our fans, who are rightfully considered the sixth field player of the team.
We are very grateful to them for their support, for the fact that they are always with us – both in moments of joy and when we have a hard time. It should be noted that in recent years, and this season in particular, fans have begun to travel to support Neftekhimik in other cities. In all away matches, we noticed fans with our attributes in the stands and actively rooting for us. The fan club traditionally accompanies us not only in all nearby cities. Not so long ago, they rooted for us from the stands of the arena in Yaroslavl. Fans from the first sector attend our team's games in Moscow, Nizhny Novgorod, Yekaterinburg and other distant cities. In late February and early March, three Neftekhimik fans made it to Khabarovsk and Vladivostok on their own. And you could hear how actively they root for us.
On behalf of Neftekhimik organization, I would like to thank all our fans for their support!
About interaction with the media
I sincerely want to thank the media for the great work they do to popularize hockey and our Neftekhimik. I mean not only the positive aspects that you reflect in your publications, posts, TV and radio broadcasts, but also critical materials, comments, and remarks. Constructive criticism, although few people like it, is no less useful than laudatory articles. It helps us to pay attention to our weaknesses, correct shortcomings, and work on mistakes.
Unfortunately, sometimes we encounter such phenomena when an outright lie or an unsuccessful joke is spread in the Internet space.
It is very sad to realize that for the sake of hype or for other reasons, first one author gave the head coach two games to correct the situation, and then "according to his information" Neftekhimik played the last match with Admiral with the coach on the bridge for the sake of form, and the hockey players were promised a triple bonus for the victory.
I am addressing the media with a huge request. We are always open for communication. If you are interested in something regarding our club, call. We are always in touch. We will answer all your questions. And then draw conclusions and write as you think it should be.
Q&A
– Is it planned to have a new affiliated team?
Igor Larionov:
No, we have no such desire. We had such experience before, but in the end two or three of our alumni played. In addition, for us it is expensive, costly. For us, cooperation with Izhstal is beneficial. It is worth recalling that Filipp Dolganov and Grigory Seleznev, who are currently in leading positions at Neftekhimik, previously played for the Izhevsk club. At one time, we invited Alexander Sudnitsyn and Alexander Belyaev from there.
– There are rumors that next season you want to start cooperation with HC Chelny. How true is this?
I. Larionov: At the moment, no decision has been made on cooperation with Izhstal. This is both on our part and on the part of the Izhevsk team. We are well acquainted with the management of the club from Naberezhnye Chelny, but at the moment the issue of cooperation is not being considered.
– Will there be a meeting with representatives of SIBUR at the end of the season?
I. Larionov: We do not have such meetings planned or envisaged. We have our own system of internal reporting on the results of the calendar year and season. Therefore, work is being carried out within this framework, we are preparing documents and will report. And so, the company promptly receives all the information about the situation in the club.
– Will SIBUR be ready to raise the budget of Neftekhimik in the event of an increase in the salary floor?
I. Larionov: We work within the framework of the KHL regulations. In the event that a decision is made to raise the salary floor, then all the league's requirements will be met.
– There are cases when a coach is dismissed during the season. However, you did not take such a step. What is the reason for this?
I. Larionov: We are not going to make hasty, emotional conclusions about personnel decisions. Moreover, before the New Year, we were confidently moving in the playoff zone. Then, unfortunately, certain factors did not allow us to maintain a place in the top 8. If we talk about the defeats at the end of December and in January, then there were no questions about the players' play. As you can see, we have long been of the opinion that conclusions should be drawn based on the entire calendar. We count our chickens in the fall.
– There are rumors that next season you want to start cooperation with HC Chelny. How true is this?
I. Larionov: At the moment, no decision has been made on cooperation with Izhstal. This is both on our part and on the part of the Izhevsk team. We are well acquainted with the management of the club from Naberezhnye Chelny, but at the moment the issue of cooperation is not being considered.
– Will there be a meeting with representatives of SIBUR at the end of the season?
I. Larionov: We do not have such meetings planned or envisaged. We have our own system of internal reporting on the results of the calendar year and season. Therefore, work is being carried out within this framework, we are preparing documents and will report. And so, the company promptly receives all the information about the situation in the club.
– Will SIBUR be ready to raise the budget of Neftekhimik in the event of an increase in the salary floor?
I. Larionov: We work within the framework of the KHL regulations. In the event that a decision is made to raise the salary floor, then all the league's requirements will be met.
– There are cases when a coach is dismissed during the season. However, you did not take such a step. What is the reason for this?
I. Larionov: We are not going to make hasty, emotional conclusions about personnel decisions. Moreover, before the New Year, we were confidently moving in the playoff zone. Then, unfortunately, certain factors did not allow us to maintain a place in the top 8. If we talk about the defeats at the end of December and in January, then there were no questions about the players' play. As you can see, we have long been of the opinion that conclusions should be drawn based on the entire calendar. We count our chickens in the fall.
– I would really like to hear from Oleg Yuryevich and Igor Viktorovich, what in your opinion your charges lacked to get to the decisive part of the season?
O. Leontyev: Yes, today, of course, tragic news arrived. I want to express my sincere condolences to the family and friends of Andrei Martemyanov. Blessed memory. I knew him as a person, as a player. For me, he was an example of a strong, reliable, confident, powerful defender with a powerful skating. And as a coach, he also achieved very decent results in all three clubs, got to the playoffs. And as a person, he was very cheerful. Therefore, my sincere condolences.
O. Leontyev: Yes, today, of course, tragic news arrived. I want to express my sincere condolences to the family and friends of Andrei Martemyanov. Blessed memory. I knew him as a person, as a player. For me, he was an example of a strong, reliable, confident, powerful defender with a powerful skating. And as a coach, he also achieved very decent results in all three clubs, got to the playoffs. And as a person, he was very cheerful. Therefore, my sincere condolences.
Regarding the situation with our club. There are many reasons why we could not get to the playoffs. But this is a detailed analysis, in principle, there is an approximate understanding of why this happened. In short, the first thing is that our roster, which was assembled, was essentially four fighting fives plus the guys who were in rotation, the reserves were also in our lineup. When the season started, everything was going according to plan, everything was fine, we were scoring points. But these injuries that we had, starting with Alexander Dergachyov, who was on schedule, about 45-50 points per season, led the team, was the leader, the leader, both in the locker room and on the ice... Then the injuries of Bryukvin, Dea, and the defense players. For almost four months, we played with four trios and three pairs of defenders without a change. That is, it is clear that it accumulated gradually. The guys, despite the fact that they played in such a mode non-stop, gave it their all. The result was 22 overtimes. But we will not go into detail about why this happened. But the very fact that the team fought, despite the fact that there was only one shortened roster, the guys who replaced the main players, also fought with dignity. But it is clear that it is impossible to continue in such a mode for long. If there was a decline, there would be some problems. But I will repeat once again that the entire regular championship, practically the entire one, until the beginning of February, the same roster fought and fought. And the goalie brigade was on equal terms. Filipp got more playing time, and Yaroslav Ozolin and Igor Bobkov were on backup. There was no confusion, as some experts write, that we had from the goalie line. Everything is fine with our tactical schemes, and preparation for the match, and the guys showed and proved their disciplined play and correct actions on the ice throughout the season. Well, of course, there was this spurt at the end of the championship, a quarter of the championship remained. Out of the last 15 games, we scored a very decent number of points, only two were completely lost. And so in all the matches and with the big guys, with direct competitors, we played very well for the rest of the championship, almost reached a good peak of form. But, unfortunately, we did not have enough points that would have allowed us to reach the most interesting part – the playoffs. I say again, despite this, there are very positive moments. Young players revealed themselves, Khoruzhev, Seleznyov and Tochilkin showed themselves very well. And Nikita generally became the best player and the discovery of the championship of the entire league. The guy in his first year in the KHL became the second scorer in the championship in our team – first Belozyorov, second Nikita. This is a very decent result. He became not only a scorer, he became the leader of the team. This whole trio gave the whole team a message, an impulse and, in principle, led our team with them. Plus, we had to take Patalakha and Kroschinsky into defense. These are the guys who were on loan, showed their best qualities. I think that both revealed themselves and did not spare themselves. Fedya, I think, had his best season, did not spare himself, fell under the puck, gave it his all, got injured. Mario Patalaha at 19, who had previously played five minutes per game, getting playing time here, also became a player, I think, close to the KHL level. Therefore, the future in Neftekhimik, I think, is very decent, instills great optimism in our team. What we gave to the league and our city, showed that we have young people who are growing with dignity and will be even stronger next year.
The fans who supported us throughout the season not only at home, but also on the road, this is also a big thank you to them. It is very nice to see in the stands, in other arenas, how they supported us, you can always hear them – they have great respect and admiration. It was especially unexpected to see them in the Far East. They came up to us after the game, had a very warm conversation. Thank you to them.
Naturally, there is huge support in our stands at home. I think that we were also very well supported this year. Many hockey fans came. I would like to especially emphasize that we have the largest number of the younger generation with posters. There is no such thing in any arena of the Russian Hockey Federation. This is one hundred percent. So many young people, so many young people who love and watch and support us. This is very nice. The best support that is everywhere, the happy faces of young people. I hope that they will grow up, become spectators, and support hockey in Nizhnekamsk. In the conditions that we worked this year, I think that the team squeezed out the maximum, even more. Yes, we did not make it to the playoffs. But our playoffs began back in February, in March. I think we passed them with dignity.
I. Fedorov:
I. Fedorov:
What was missing? 0.7 seconds were missing. We all watched the last game, words cannot describe it. We completely controlled the course of the match, but 0.7 seconds were not enough to make it to the play–in. In the regular championship, we were in third place for most of it. No one could have predicted this before the championship. Because a very large part of the players left due to age, and their place was taken by school graduates and those guys who are in their second year on the team. As for the team, I will say - all the guys were great, everyone played at their best, showed character. The most important thing is that we gave the Golden and Silver Divisions a fight. The last away game we played, six away games with the leaders of the Golden and Silver Divisions, in each game we did not lose, and somewhere, maybe, we outplayed. The guys were great, but we were one point short.
It's sad, of course, sad. I don't even want to remember it. In 0.7 seconds, everything collapsed. We talked to the guys. After the game, of course, it was terrible in the locker room, all the guys were very upset. But life goes on. And the Olympic Games are lost there in a second, It's a sport, someone wins, someone loses. We continue to work, we move only forward, not a step back.
– Oleg Yuryevich, what do you attribute Nikita Khoruzhev's progress to?
– O. Leontyev: Knowing Nikita, how he prepares, how hard he works on himself during training, how he listens to our tips, recommendations, how he does it all on the ice. And, naturally, all this paid off for him. It is clear that it was the first year, but we also did not expect it. When two of our centers were injured, and he took on this burden of our leader, it was very pleasant, very valuable. He took and dragged the team along with him. He got more playing time, more trust. He always absorbs, listens and does what is required. A very decent person, it is very pleasant to work with such young guys. Due to his work, diligence, persistence, tenacity, to prove. Understandable. That there has already been a change of generations and such progress has taken place. Nikita, I am sure that with his attitude, knowing him, I think that this is only the beginning.
– Igor Viktorovich, a contract was signed with Nikolai Krivolapov before the deadline. It seems to me that he was able to join the team right away. Can he be considered that very necessary detail of the attack line? And why did he start playing right away?
– I. Fedorov: We took Krivolapov on his last day of additional registration. If it is there, then it is there. He was simply not physically ready. We improved his physique, added movement, he has hands, he has a head, he has character, he has focus and a sports component. A person who can score, right-handed. God willing, he continues in the same spirit.
– Is there a connection with the unsuccessful results of Neftekhimik and the summer transfer selection? Because it was intense for the club, but at the same time, most of the transfers did not justify themselves. We are not taking into account Abrasimov's injury. Kiselevich's contract was terminated at the end of November.
It's sad, of course, sad. I don't even want to remember it. In 0.7 seconds, everything collapsed. We talked to the guys. After the game, of course, it was terrible in the locker room, all the guys were very upset. But life goes on. And the Olympic Games are lost there in a second, It's a sport, someone wins, someone loses. We continue to work, we move only forward, not a step back.
– Oleg Yuryevich, what do you attribute Nikita Khoruzhev's progress to?
– O. Leontyev: Knowing Nikita, how he prepares, how hard he works on himself during training, how he listens to our tips, recommendations, how he does it all on the ice. And, naturally, all this paid off for him. It is clear that it was the first year, but we also did not expect it. When two of our centers were injured, and he took on this burden of our leader, it was very pleasant, very valuable. He took and dragged the team along with him. He got more playing time, more trust. He always absorbs, listens and does what is required. A very decent person, it is very pleasant to work with such young guys. Due to his work, diligence, persistence, tenacity, to prove. Understandable. That there has already been a change of generations and such progress has taken place. Nikita, I am sure that with his attitude, knowing him, I think that this is only the beginning.
– Igor Viktorovich, a contract was signed with Nikolai Krivolapov before the deadline. It seems to me that he was able to join the team right away. Can he be considered that very necessary detail of the attack line? And why did he start playing right away?
– I. Fedorov: We took Krivolapov on his last day of additional registration. If it is there, then it is there. He was simply not physically ready. We improved his physique, added movement, he has hands, he has a head, he has character, he has focus and a sports component. A person who can score, right-handed. God willing, he continues in the same spirit.
– Is there a connection with the unsuccessful results of Neftekhimik and the summer transfer selection? Because it was intense for the club, but at the same time, most of the transfers did not justify themselves. We are not taking into account Abrasimov's injury. Kiselevich's contract was terminated at the end of November.
– Rtishchev played only four games in the regular championship. Again, is there a connection?
– O. Leontyev: The roster was complete before the season. And the players who were in rotation. Naturally, the fifth line is not the first line. It is clear that they were counting on the first four lines. No one thought that there would be so many injured players. There were many guys who were inferior in class and skill to those guys who were injured. The question about Kiselevich is very simple. We took young Mario Patalaha, a limit player, we needed him. In terms of play, desire, movement, dedication, in all respects he was superior to Bogdan. He is a well-known and very famous hockey player, honor and praise to him. But in this situation, the young hockey player, I think, performed even better than we expected. And therefore it was a very high-quality replacement. Plus, do not forget about Kiselevich's contract. There was a difference several times, several times. Therefore, we have gained quite significantly in both price and quality of the player's performance.
About our team's unsuccessful performance. It depends on how you look at it. I believe that there are many positive and very useful things to take away from this.
– O. Leontyev: The roster was complete before the season. And the players who were in rotation. Naturally, the fifth line is not the first line. It is clear that they were counting on the first four lines. No one thought that there would be so many injured players. There were many guys who were inferior in class and skill to those guys who were injured. The question about Kiselevich is very simple. We took young Mario Patalaha, a limit player, we needed him. In terms of play, desire, movement, dedication, in all respects he was superior to Bogdan. He is a well-known and very famous hockey player, honor and praise to him. But in this situation, the young hockey player, I think, performed even better than we expected. And therefore it was a very high-quality replacement. Plus, do not forget about Kiselevich's contract. There was a difference several times, several times. Therefore, we have gained quite significantly in both price and quality of the player's performance.
About our team's unsuccessful performance. It depends on how you look at it. I believe that there are many positive and very useful things to take away from this.
– As the season progressed, we saw that Pashnin, Kapustin, and Petrov had joined the team. Were you happy with how these players strengthened the team? Did they give the impetus that the team needed during a small crisis?
– O. Leontyev: And the situation was such that when I already said that we played with the same lineup for these 4 months, it was clear that we simply needed reserve players. Suddenly, God forbid, an injury would happen, we would physically have no one to play with. And by that time the market was already, not just empty, there was no one on the market at all. And we took Petrov and Kapustin as practically the last ones left, and they corresponded to the KHL level. It is clear that they were not in the right condition at all. We gave them time to prepare. I think Kapustin performed very successfully, he helped our team. Kirill Petrov also helped us at a certain stage. Pashnin also helped us at a certain level, but I say again, time is inexorable for everyone.
– Are you staying in Neftekhimik for the next season?
– O. Leontyev: As far as I understand, it will be known by the end of April. So there is no point in repeating myself. Right now, in this situation, nothing depends on me. As the management of SIBUR and the Neftekhimik club decides, so, probably, they will give me an answer. Of course, I would like it to happen in the near future.
– Do you want to stay in Nizhnekamsk?
– O. Leontyev: I have a contract for two more years, but there is a nuance. The team that you build with an eye on the next season, you put your heart and soul into. Of course, I want to work, and our coaching staff also wants to work, and not only work, but to achieve the goals set. Wherever I am, wherever I work, I will never be ashamed of my work, because I will give my all together with my coaching staff. With the team, we will achieve the result that is possible.
– How satisfied are you with your students? Only two players, Shafigullin and Khoruzhev, played for Neftekhimik the entire season. Are you happy with this number?
A. Marchinsky: It all depends on the guys. We won't artificially pull anyone along, everything is based on the sporting principle. There are guys and they are on the way in the Youth League, there are six guys - Muissu, Reshetnikov, Sokolov, who is having a breakthrough season in the Youth League, we have Gizyatov, Stolyarov. There are our guys, we will gradually promote locals, we are all for it.
– O. Leontyev: Of course, we could take a risk. But I think we should play for the spectators. Everyone wants results and we need to introduce young players, our own alumni, as they mature and become KHL players. I'm not sure that spectators will come to the arena when it's 0:6, 0:8, 0:5, and so on. We have a professional club that should match the KHL level. And no one will be artificially introduced here. If a player brings results, brings benefits - it doesn't matter, young, old, local, I don't know, meets some other parameters. The main thing is that he meets the KHL level. Everyone gets into the club, a professional KHL club, only based on the sports principle. There are no other principles.
I can say that the school works here, and there are very decent guys on the way. But they are not ready yet. As soon as they are ready, we will pull them up, we will definitely take them. And not only locals, those guys who are invited from other regions.
And in general, this is the division of friend and foe. We are all people of planet Earth, of the same blood. And here there is no such concept of a stranger or some other. Whoever meets the requirements, plays.
– A question for Anton Vladimirovich. Why was Bobkov offered an agreement for a year and a half. Why for such a period, and not until the end of the season?
A. Marchinsky: I know the goalie market for next year, it will be empty this off-season. Igor had an outstanding season last year, 93% of shots saved. He was one of the main heroes of Khabarovsk Amur. This season did not go well, he got injured, but there was a recovery process, so we hope that he will reach his level by next season. Therefore, knowing the market, there is unlikely to be anything worthy, so to speak.
– And did you take into account Bobkov's injury risks?
– A. Marchinsky: We always take into account, of course, and we understand history. But Igor is a great professional in general. Even just by his example, his attitude to business, he can become an example for Ozolin on how to approach business, how to prepare for matches. And great experience. Therefore, here we considered not only playing qualities, but also many other factors.
– O. Leontyev: And the situation was such that when I already said that we played with the same lineup for these 4 months, it was clear that we simply needed reserve players. Suddenly, God forbid, an injury would happen, we would physically have no one to play with. And by that time the market was already, not just empty, there was no one on the market at all. And we took Petrov and Kapustin as practically the last ones left, and they corresponded to the KHL level. It is clear that they were not in the right condition at all. We gave them time to prepare. I think Kapustin performed very successfully, he helped our team. Kirill Petrov also helped us at a certain stage. Pashnin also helped us at a certain level, but I say again, time is inexorable for everyone.
– Are you staying in Neftekhimik for the next season?
– O. Leontyev: As far as I understand, it will be known by the end of April. So there is no point in repeating myself. Right now, in this situation, nothing depends on me. As the management of SIBUR and the Neftekhimik club decides, so, probably, they will give me an answer. Of course, I would like it to happen in the near future.
– Do you want to stay in Nizhnekamsk?
– O. Leontyev: I have a contract for two more years, but there is a nuance. The team that you build with an eye on the next season, you put your heart and soul into. Of course, I want to work, and our coaching staff also wants to work, and not only work, but to achieve the goals set. Wherever I am, wherever I work, I will never be ashamed of my work, because I will give my all together with my coaching staff. With the team, we will achieve the result that is possible.
– How satisfied are you with your students? Only two players, Shafigullin and Khoruzhev, played for Neftekhimik the entire season. Are you happy with this number?
A. Marchinsky: It all depends on the guys. We won't artificially pull anyone along, everything is based on the sporting principle. There are guys and they are on the way in the Youth League, there are six guys - Muissu, Reshetnikov, Sokolov, who is having a breakthrough season in the Youth League, we have Gizyatov, Stolyarov. There are our guys, we will gradually promote locals, we are all for it.
– O. Leontyev: Of course, we could take a risk. But I think we should play for the spectators. Everyone wants results and we need to introduce young players, our own alumni, as they mature and become KHL players. I'm not sure that spectators will come to the arena when it's 0:6, 0:8, 0:5, and so on. We have a professional club that should match the KHL level. And no one will be artificially introduced here. If a player brings results, brings benefits - it doesn't matter, young, old, local, I don't know, meets some other parameters. The main thing is that he meets the KHL level. Everyone gets into the club, a professional KHL club, only based on the sports principle. There are no other principles.
I can say that the school works here, and there are very decent guys on the way. But they are not ready yet. As soon as they are ready, we will pull them up, we will definitely take them. And not only locals, those guys who are invited from other regions.
And in general, this is the division of friend and foe. We are all people of planet Earth, of the same blood. And here there is no such concept of a stranger or some other. Whoever meets the requirements, plays.
– A question for Anton Vladimirovich. Why was Bobkov offered an agreement for a year and a half. Why for such a period, and not until the end of the season?
A. Marchinsky: I know the goalie market for next year, it will be empty this off-season. Igor had an outstanding season last year, 93% of shots saved. He was one of the main heroes of Khabarovsk Amur. This season did not go well, he got injured, but there was a recovery process, so we hope that he will reach his level by next season. Therefore, knowing the market, there is unlikely to be anything worthy, so to speak.
– And did you take into account Bobkov's injury risks?
– A. Marchinsky: We always take into account, of course, and we understand history. But Igor is a great professional in general. Even just by his example, his attitude to business, he can become an example for Ozolin on how to approach business, how to prepare for matches. And great experience. Therefore, here we considered not only playing qualities, but also many other factors.
– How do you see the further development of the goalkeeper issue? Do I understand correctly that it is planned to enter the new season with three goalkeepers who can be the first numbers?
– A. Marchinsky: But, probably, this situation with goalkeepers will be analyzed in detail a little later. There cannot be three first numbers. Of course, we have Filipp Dolganov number one, who has staked out this place for himself. There is a slightly younger Yaroslav Ozolin, who as a backup, in principle, showed himself at the end of the season, what he is capable of. Everyone wants to be first. Therefore, healthy competition is good. We will see how it will be. The most important thing is that we have resolved the goalkeeper issue. This is the main thing.
