Press Conference «Torpedo – Neftekhimik» 9/27/2025
27.09.2025
Neftekhimik Head Coach Igor Grishin speaks with the media after a following 2–1 win over Torpedo.
Our team showed character, willpower, and even skill in some ways. Despite a limited number of opportunities, we managed to capitalize on goal–scoring chances we had and score. Of course, Torpedo looked more aggressive today and had the advantage. In the second period, we overplayed our shifts a bit, and that probably had an impact: the guys weren't fully recovered. Torpedo seized the initiative and attacked a lot, but we defended competently and selflessly. Filipp Dolganov played wel land kept us in the game. It seemed like a well–deserved victory, but overall, we brought the match to a fairly confident conclusion.– Based on what you have said, would it be fair to say that the game went according to your plan?
– Well, I do not think soo. I'd like to attack more, spend more time in the attacking zone. But after all, there are two teams playing, and a lot depends on who's better at what. Today, Torpedo played a lot more offensively than we did. Obviously, I am not very happy with that—I'd like to be more active up front. But we're happy that we were able to capitalize on our opportunities, and that was enough for us to win.
– Emotions grew as the game progressed, and some players reacted quite emotionally to what was happening. Maxim Fedotov, for example. How would you comment on that, and what's behind that?
– It's clear that the teams are fighting for the win. The closer the game gets to the finish, naturally, one team succeeds, while the other doesn't. Everyone is fighting, and emotions are running high. As for Maxim, I think Kruchinin provoked that moment somewhere.
– Was Torpedo's greater possession of the puck dictated by your team's intention to play second fiddle, or was it more a matter of scoring?
– Absolutely not—we weren't going to give up any initiative to our opponents. Our goal is always to try to dominate the game and spend more time in the offensive zone. But the game is not like the game itself. Today, Torpedo's creative play was better than ours: they looked fresher, covered us when we left the zone, quickly returned to defense, and practically did not allow us to quickly counterattack. Therefore, we spent less time on the attack.
