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Russian
00:00:03
Firstly because the current events are much more important than football00:00:08
And also because the especially careful choice of words is needed during the military actions in Ukraine00:00:13
Russian football representatives barely spoke out about the events
And for all this time we've been running out of expressions allowed to use on the topic00:00:19
Our today’s guest is Igor Denisov – Russia national team ex-captain
And one of the main players in the history of our country00:00:25
We asked him how his life had changed at the end of February
And tried to figure out together how things could move on00:00:31
including our beloved Russian football00:00:41
– Hi Igor, thanks for your willing to talk. You don’t do that often00:00:45
But we’re grateful that you decided to meet and to talk about our football after all that had happened at the end of February00:00:53
You chose this place, Gazchay. Why?00:00:57
– I just like it here00:00:58
Hi again everyone. I like it here and we spent good time here with Dmitry Sychev
And I wanted to drink some good tea00:01:04
– Igor, let’s kick off with the important question00:01:09
Where were you on the 24th of February?00:01:15
At home… sleeping00:01:17
On the 25th I was shocked to say the least…00:01:20
I thought they would stop in Donbass as they had been telling us before00:01:29
But when in 2 days I found out that our troops were moving even further the shock changed for horror00:01:36
I’m quite a sensitive person and…00:01:40
I wouldn’t hurt a fly00:01:42
So this w*r for me is a disaster, complete horror00:01:47
I don’t know if they jail or kill me for what I’m saying but I’m telling what I feel00:01:51
The perception of everything changed drastically, I didn’t sleep for…
well for 4 days I haven’t slept for more than 3 hours00:02:00
I was shocked and I still don’t understand why such things happen in 2022 and nobody is able explain it to me00:02:06
I may not be well-read, I may not know history well00:02:10
But I stand against the w*r. I disapprove of people dying00:02:15
I have 3 sons. First thing I asked my wife was what if they were 18-19-20 years old and they were taken to fight?00:02:26
I can’t even explain what I felt00:02:30
Complete horror and disaster inside me00:02:34
I talked to Lena and I didn’t know how to live on00:02:37
Whether to go abroad or to stay00:02:42
But I love my country and I’m not going to leave00:02:46
I had that thought flashed through my mind00:02:48
– For how long did you think about it?00:02:50
– For about a week. We spent a week trying to figure out what to do00:02:56
But we decided to stay because I simply can’t live abroad00:03:00
I’m a Russian lad, a street boy if you like. I won’t be able to live there00:03:03
I don’t strive to live in Spain or England or wherever00:03:08
I wish things were good here in Russia and there was peace00:03:12
That’s what I’m trying to say00:03:15
– You say you considered leaving the country. I know you have a house in Spain, you mentioned it in interviews. How is your house?00:03:23
– I put it up for sale00:03:25
– So you are selling it00:03:26
– Yes. I haven’t been able to use it for 2 years00:03:31
I haven’t been there for 2,5 years because of covid00:03:36
We’ve applied for a visa recently since there is a chance to travel there via Turkey00:03:41
but my wife and kids have been denied00:03:47
And I have no desire to go there. – Why?00:03:50
– I don’t want to go to Europe now because I travelled half of the world and I felt how they treated us before00:03:59
And now I don’t want them to point fingers at me00:04:03
– But many people who share your views left00:04:07
– Everyone has the right to make their choice00:04:11
I feel more comfortable here. I am a Russian man00:04:15
I spent 3-4 consecutive months in Europe and I realized that it wasn’t right for me00:04:22
Not for $10 million, I just won’t live there, I am not such a person00:04:28
I would rather live in a Russian forest that at a Spanish villa. I mean it00:04:34
– Can you think of something that could make you leave?00:04:38
– I guess no. Even in case of a full-scale disaster I will stay00:04:42
They don’t want us there. My daughter used to study at a Spanish school00:04:48
(Caption: Igor’s elder kids went to school on Gran Canaria
and returned to Russia in a few years’ time)
I’ll be honest with you. It can’t be compared to the English education00:04:56
but still we went there for her to learn English and Spanish and to live in a good climate00:05:00
So at this Spanish school the teachers used to bias the kids against us. Already at a very young age00:05:09
It doesn’t feel right as well and I don’t want to…00:05:14
Let’s say I can’t… I don’t have money for all my kids to study at the best English school I have 4 of them00:05:21
(Caption: Igor and his wife Elena have 4 children: Vika (17 y.o.),
Igor (13) and Vanya and Danya (both 10)
Not 1, not 2, but 4. So I can’t provide them with the perfect education in England00:05:28
And I don’t want to live in England, don’t want just to stay there00:05:33
So even if there is… say state of martial law or something I’ll stay00:05:40
To say more I’m 100% sure even if I could afford English or Swiss or whatever education for my children I would still stay00:05:49
But again I disapprove of what’s currently happening. Mildly speaking00:05:54
– How are you going to live with it? On the one hand you love Russia. That’s fair and the right thing to do. It’s your home country and you can’t imagine living elsewhere like many people00:06:03
But at the same time the current circumstances make your life very hard00:06:06
– I do feel very hard, that’s true00:06:08
Because of that I took up some activities in youth football just to leave those bad thoughts behind00:06:15
I couldn't bear it. I was going mad00:06:19
(Caption: Petrovo-Dalneye, Moscow Region)
– Second ball!00:06:22
The green go wide now!00:06:24
Go! Yes!00:06:26
Wider, Andryusha! Well done, Andrey!00:06:29
Well done! The green – super! But I’ll save this one…00:06:34
Danya, pass! Half-turned!00:06:37
Drunken ninja…00:06:38
Yes! Turn around and shoot!00:06:41
That’s what I’m talking about!00:06:43
Yes! Class that! 1:100:06:51
Fantastic!00:06:56
– Igor, you’re in good shape. You mentioned you keep fit… – Sure I do!00:07:00
– And it seems like the pitch still attracts you00:07:04
– Well yes… (laughs) But before I took those kiddies under my wing00:07:08
I had touched the ball… hmmm… maybe twice in 3 years00:07:15
– You don’t say! – No lie!00:07:17
– I used to do a lot of jogging, did some gym but didn’t touch the ball00:07:21
But now that I’m here playing with them it all arouses…00:07:26
– You’re into it! Doing all the drills… – Sure!00:07:27
I embraced it and I’ve been enjoying it for 1,5 months already00:07:36
I tell you what: I’m 100% sure I would have played till 4000:07:40
(Caption: Igor retired in may 2019 at 35)
And I tell you more: I would have played at the same level00:07:44
(Caption: Igor retired in may 2019 at 35)
I’m talking my inner feelings now00:07:46
Only if it hadn’t been for our shitty Russian football00:07:49
My wife can confirm: I could stay silent every evening, I felt…00:07:54
I couldn’t understand anything00:07:56
How could they fire the president who had put together the title-winning team,
how could they approach the captain to ask him to cut his salary… how so?!00:08:03
I tell you more: I went through all that mess at “Dynamo”… complete mess!00:08:09
Besides they haven’t won the Russian Cup yet again00:08:11
You get it, right?00:08:13
– Yes, I watched the final…00:08:14
– Exactly. That’s inexplicable00:08:17
– The “Lokomotiv” president Gerkus takes me out of this morass00:08:20
I get myself back to my best fitness…
well for the Russian league I was fully prepared, full of energy00:08:27
And the same things go over again – the same as at “Dynamo”. And I just couldn’t bear it00:08:36
I could have dealt with it. Probably I could have joined “Krasnodar” but I lost my lust for football at that time00:08:44
The thing with “Krasnodar” was that… Misha Prokopets and I tried…00:08:47
(Caption: Mikhail Prokopets – Denisov’s legal advisor)
– They made a move for you, didn’t they?00:08:50
(Caption: Mikhail Prokopets – Denisov’s legal advisor)
– They did. At least Misha said they did. But that was back then00:08:56
I refused 2 times. And 1,5 years later I told him…
well I knew it mas one in a million chance…00:09:01
I just woke up and felt the desire, the motivation… I just wanted it00:09:08
But of course they laughed and said that I must have been mad… and they were right00:09:12
– That was 1,5 years since you had retired00:09:13
– Yes, a year and a little more00:11:27
– You said you have 4 kids which is cool
Did they ask you something about Ukraine during the last 4 months?00:11:37
– Hmmm… no00:11:39
Thank God no00:11:41
Well the little ones asked a few times like what’s up but I…00:11:47
it’s just the TV is strictly banned at my home00:11:51
We watch either cartoons or movies with the kids00:11:55
but no way we have watched any news for the last 10 years!00:12:02
Lena might have watched Channel 1 in the mornings when she woke up00:12:07
But as a rule at my presence the news are off at my home00:12:11
– So how do you stay up to date?00:12:13
– Well there are ways… YouTube… it pops out and I find out everything I need00:12:20
You don’t believe what they say on TV, do you?00:12:24
– No, quite the opposite. It’s just you said the kids had never asked you
They can’t live in the vacuum, can they?00:12:32
– Well yes, they showed some interest
But I told them not to dig into this and to carry on with their lives00:12:37
and to carry on with their studies. I think it’s too early to explain to them00:12:47
– As far as I know they touch upon this topic at schools. How can you…00:12:52
– No, there’s nothing like that at our school, the 1st Moscow gymnasium
I asked my elder daughter about it, she confirmed me that everything is fine00:13:01
But if they make my kids join the young pioneers’ organization or whatever00:13:07
I’ll take them out of this school immediately00:13:09
They will do home schooling because I believe that you can’t put kids or anyone under boundaries and make them do anything they don’t even understand00:13:18
And even myself… I don’t understand a lot00:13:20
Once again I may not be well educated but nobody can explain to me what’s happening and make me think it’s right00:13:27
– You said your daughter went to Spain to learn languages: English, Spanish00:13:32
Tell me how you see the future in terms of your children’s education?00:13:36
– I don’t know. That’s… that’s the sore point. I don’t know, I have no answer00:13:43
I am full of anxiety. I’m afraid they could become just another lost generation00:13:52
But still I won’t leave00:13:53
– And if the kids grow up and…00:13:56
– Well of course if Vika says she wants to leave I will let her leave
But I won’t force my kids to do so00:14:04
– But you won’t stand in their way?00:14:06
– No, it’s her choice. I always said…
when I talked to my little ones who are now 10 I told them to make their own choices00:14:15
If they want to do anything I let them do it00:14:20
I have such kind of relationships with them. Of course the discipline comes first but00:14:25
if they say or ask for something I tell them:
“If you believe that is something you need – go for it”00:14:33
– Your grandmother survived the Siege of Leningrad. What did she tell you about it?00:14:38
– This topic has always been taboo in our family00:14:45
For many years we have lived together: my parents, my sister and I have lived together with my grandma – five of us in one apartment for many years00:14:55
And she didn’t tell me a word about the war. Neither she told anyone. I don’t know why00:15:00
– Igor, what scares you the most in this situation?00:15:04
– The w*r00:15:06
It’s the w*r that scares me. I’m honest, I’m a human being and I’m afraid of the war00:15:11
I’m afraid that the bombs might fly over our heads00:15:14
People can showboat sitting at home saying (the army) should do this and that00:15:19
but they will be the first to scream at the sight of the first bomb… if it isn’t too late00:15:23
It scares me. It truly does00:15:26
I’m afraid for my kids, I have 4 of them
I don’t care if a brick falls down on my head tomorrow00:15:32
but I have kids and I care for them so yes, I’m scared00:15:36
At the same time I’m not leaving Russia. Why should I?
I was born here, it’s my country. My kids were born here00:15:44
I don’t understand why I should leave my country00:15:48
And why should many people who disapprove remain silent?
I don’t understand it either00:15:55
I don’t campaign for going out on the streets and throw down someone00:15:59
I don’t give a damn about them. As they don’t care about me – they have no idea of my existence00:16:04
But if you stand against you should be able to speak out. And I speak against00:16:09
I don’t know what the solution might be00:16:11
– During the first days after the 24.02 you came up with an idea to…00:16:17
– Sure, this wasn’t just an idea or desire…00:16:24
I’ve recorded a message to our “the almighty one”00:16:30
I understood that he wouldn’t have a look at it. Who am I for him?00:16:34
I sent it to Misha Prokopets, we wanted it to be uploaded on YouTube but everybody refused to do so00:16:42
(Caption: «Everybody refused» – Igor means the media to which his legal advisor Mikhail Prokopets and he offered to publish the message to Putin)
– Could you make it clear? So straight away you wanted to…00:16:46
(Caption: «Everybody refused» – Igor means the media to which his legal advisor Mikhail Prokopets and he offered to publish the message to Putin)
– Not straight away. After 3-4-5 days00:16:49
– You had a message to Putin? – Yes00:16:52
– What did you say?00:16:55
– I asked him to stop this00:16:58
I even told him I was ready to go on my knees in front of him00:17:03
I’m a proud guy… it was the 3rd or the 4th day…
I was ready to stand down on my knees in front of him00:17:11
for him to stop it00:17:13
Who cares about the life of one man, some Denisov?00:17:16
I didn’t care about the pride because I had a clue of what it would lead to00:17:21
But unfortunately nobody agreed to publish00:17:25
– Can you explain why they didn’t? You are a celebrity, the national team ex-captain00:17:31
– I don’t know. I didn’t speak to anyone personally. You can ask Misha Prokopets00:17:37
– Was it painful? You had such an outburst. You are saying you’re a proud guy, the message was huge but you got rejected00:17:47
– Of course it was. But then they passed the law which implies imprisonment00:17:54
(Caption: On 4.03 Putin endorsed the law on criminal liability for false information about the Russian Armed Forces with the punishment of up to 15-year jail terms)
I’m just a normal person. And even now talking to you I feel a bit scared00:18:06
but as I told my sister I can’t hold back and keep silent00:18:11
And again I’m not hiding, I’m not going to leave. Whatever happens, happens00:18:18
but I can’t hide what I’m feeling00:18:20
Again someone who thinks differently might say I’m talking bollocks00:18:26
but I personally think I should express myself00:18:32
– Igor, look. There will be many people related to Russian football who will watch this video: managers, players, directors00:18:39
but they don’t speak out. We witness complete silence00:18:45
Let’s explain them why it’s necessary to speak out on this topic00:18:50
– Me personally… my mom and my sister told me to keep away, that there was no need...00:19:00
Why should they speak out? You should ask each person individually00:19:04
If you ask me I can’t… even now talking about it almost makes me cry. I just…00:19:13
I’m like this. Those who remain silent think it’s not important. Everyone’s different00:19:23
– Were you surprised that nobody said anything except for literally 2 players?
You’ve played with many...00:19:29
– Yes, I was. – Nobody spoke out. – Yes!00:19:32
I tell you more. If I hadn’t retired 3 years ago, even if I was 29, even if I couldn’t provide for my family…00:19:43
I’m not showing off – I would have quit football on the 25th of February. It's a fact00:19:51
I can’t say what I would do afterwards. I would lose a lot of money – that’s for sure00:19:56
But I would quit, I wouldn’t be able to play00:19:59
– You mentioned you watch YouTube. – Yes
– Did you watch the video in which Evgeniy Savin spoke to the Ukranian players? – No00:20:05
(Caption: On the 18th of April Russian ex-footballer and current popular blogger Evgeniy Savin published a video in which he talks about the military actions with Andriy Yarmolenko, Vitaly Mykolenko, Alexandr Aliyev, Andriy Voronin and Darijo Srna)
I’ll quote Andriy Yarmolenko for you. By the way he was born in Russia and speaks Russian00:20:14
(Caption: Savin left Russia after the video had been published)
So he asked the audience why Russian footballers remain silent. – I don’t know00:20:23
I have no idea00:20:24
I’ve recently had a word with Fedor Smolov
I called a doctor and he happened to be there with him00:20:30
I asked him the same thing00:20:33
– How did he reply?00:20:35
– Well he said something like… you know you better ask him
I don’t want to speak for him, you better ask him00:20:44
– Do they fear for their contracts?00:20:45
– I’m sure they do00:20:47
– You know there is a widespread version, although it is kept low, that at many teams in March and in the beginning of April00:20:56
players and staff, both Russian and foreigners, were so affected by the situation that they struggled to focus on football00:21:06
They said they couldn’t play knowing what was happening00:21:11
How severe might that problem be?00:21:15
– A lot. It’s a huge problem. I wouldn’t be able to play00:21:19
It’s a hell of a problem. I couldn’t sleep. How would I be supposed to go out on the pitch if I wouldn’t sleep?00:21:25
I wouldn’t be able to play! If you ask me, I say no, no way. For me it’s a huge problem!00:24:05
– You say you are ready to work at "Zenit" for free, you don't need salary...
– Yes, totally. – So you are financially independent. – Yes00:24:15
– Let me ask you something topical. Where have you invested?00:24:18
– As for investments... look, my first contract at "Zenit" was on...00:24:24
(Caption: Igor Denisov made his debut at "Zenit" in 2002 against CSKA (0:2) at Petrovskiy Stadium)
The following year 19-year-old Denisov became a regular first-team player00:24:29
(Caption: Igor Denisov made his debut at "Zenit" in 2002 against CSKA (0:2) at Petrovskiy Stadium)
$140k as I remember – that's what Vitaliy Mutko (ex-"Zenit" and Russian Football Union president) offered me00:24:32
For the first 3 months I've been burning all of that money like any other young player who used to make 1k rubles a month00:24:38
and overnight it turned into $10k. I had no idea what to do with all that money00:24:41
They used to give us money in a bag... and I ran to buy a car immediately like a moron00:24:47
which I didn't need at all. I didn't have my own place – we shared a rental flat with 3 other guys – quite a usual thing to do at that time00:24:54
And all of a sudden the money has come and we went for this and that: a luxury car, lots of chicks – classic. – Obviously00:25:03
– There was a morning when I woke up hungover and thought: "I should buy an apartment"00:25:10
(Caption: Pavel Andreyev – one of the most powerful agents in Russia, Denisov was his client)
I called Pasha Andreyev and loaned $150k to invest it into my first apartment00:25:17
Then I paid him back and sold this apartment for a higher price00:25:21
And when I met my wife Lena, when my daughter Vika was born00:25:27
I already new my temper. It's hard to be with me and it's very hard to work with me00:25:31
I'm a very demanding person00:25:34
I started thinking how to invest in order to be independent after retirement00:25:38
including the independence of people's judgement. Because I can't stand..
When I see something's wrong I say it00:25:42
if I understand that's not the right way to work00:25:44
Borya Rotenberg Jr. once told me while at "Lokomotiv":
"No one wants to work with you"00:25:50
I said: "If no one wants to work with me I will work alone. No problem"00:25:56
So I started investing:
at first I wanted to build wooden houses and resell them – I failed00:26:02
Then I gave my money to investors – failed00:26:06
A few other attempts – failed. – What kind of attempts if that's ok to ask?
– Different silly stuff, I was a joke of an investor00:26:13
Back then I thought I was the smartest one as it happens when you are 2000:26:17
I lost a lot... well relatively much money00:26:21
and then in 2011 I guess...00:26:25
I don't remember when Russia was chosen to host the World Cup 2018...00:26:30
– Yes, it was 2011. – So in 2011 at the time when our bid won
the commercial property in Saint Petersburg was very cheap00:26:40
As soon as I found out that we were hosting the WC I called my friend and told him we should buy as much commercial estate as possible, we should invest all we had00:26:53
So from that time onwards (11 years already) I have been investing and renting out premises. For example to supermarkets00:27:00
What I do is buying the ground floor of a building and renting it out to "Lenta", "Dixy", "Magnit" etc.00:27:05
That's safe because no matter what, even in case of war people need food00:27:10
There might not be indexation, the income might drop but I will always have something anyway00:27:15
– So you are a rentier, right? You own real estate and rent it out
– Yes, commercial estate. I own a lot00:27:23
Imagine I've been buying it for the last 11 years00:27:26
I'm 38 now. At 26 I had loans00:27:34
I had my highest salary and business income combined at "Anzhi"00:27:41
(Caption: Igor moved to "Anzhi" on 21.06.2013. 1,5 months later the owner Suleyman Kerimov changed the strategy and sold all the top-players
Denisov signed for "Dynamo")00:27:48
When euro went up I received 37-38 million rubles per month
One month I even got 39 million00:27:57
I haven't seen this money. I had loans for 200 million rubles and I invested over and over again00:28:04
– So you loaned money, bought commercial estate and paid the loans from the salary
– Yes, step by step I had done well by the time I retired00:28:14
– How much do you currently make investing?
– Oh, can I keep it to myself? Money loves silence00:28:21
I've already mentioned a lot of my contracts. I'd put it as enough
For myself and for my family00:28:27
– So you feel completely independent and secure. – Yes00:28:30
– As an investor (I see you are good at it) tell me if the upturn of ruble at the currency market is a good or a bad thing00:28:40
– It depends on a business. It's a bad thing for those export-orientated ones
They sell their goods for dollars, exchange them and get less00:28:52
For me it's more or less the same but I don't believe in this rate, it's artificial
I'm sure about it00:28:58
When the limits are lifted, when there is free circulation of dollars in cash, not just online trading – then we will see completely different rate00:29:08
– Has your investment income changed for the last 4 months?
And how do you follow the trends? Do you have a manager who reports to you?00:29:17
– There are just three of us. I work with my sister and with my old friend
Well not a friend, we have just known each other for a long time00:29:26
and we fully trust each other00:29:29
Look, we have become poorer by 40% in one day. If the prices go up by 40% you become poorer by 40% – simple as that00:29:35
If I used to buy bread for 1 ruble and now it costs 1,4 – it means I lost 40%00:29:41
But I can't increase rental price by 40% – it's impossible00:29:44
Of course I will always make enough for a living00:29:50
If they impose martial law and there is life hazard it's another thing00:29:54
but for now I'm fine with how things are going. I thank God for that and I don't complain00:29:59
Then again I took a huge risk. My teammates and the players around told me to do nothing but football00:30:06
I said: "Guys, you have a decade", – I told that to Miranchuk brothers – "10 years to become independent from the government, from parents or friends – from anybody00:30:21
Try to invest. There will be failures, you won't succeed without losing something00:30:27
That would be a miracle. You will fail 2 or 3 times, but once you find the right way you will have something by the end of your career"00:30:35
– Have you ever thought of expanding to other cities of countries? – Yes, I had00:30:41
I have all of my estate in St. Petersburg. But we reviewed the Moscow market and it turned out to be completely impossible for us, even theoretically00:30:48
– Is it because of high competition? – Not exactly the competition
It's... just completely different00:30:54
St. Petersburg is just on the way to this
We examined the development companies here in Moscow00:30:59
For example you come to them and ask for a discount00:31:03
They say: "Are you mad? There is a guy who has 10 billion
He will come tomorrow and buy out everything. No discounts"
This is a mild example00:31:12
St. Petersburg is moving towards this but we've been on that market for a very long time and it helps...00:31:18
But for the last 1,5 years I have bought just 1 premises – there are no more left00:31:21
– Are you going to carry on investing regarding the events happening?00:31:25
Things are changing and investments are in need
Are you going to invest in St. Petersburg?00:31:30
– Yes, I'm up for it. I'm always ready because I have money saved for it – I never spend all of it00:31:37
When I get income I always split it and save partly in dollars and rubles00:31:43
But still there is nothing to buy now
– Though if the market changes because of the events are you going to carry on?00:31:52
– Well since I'm going to stay here, then yes00:31:55
I'm not smart enough to invest abroad. And that's one of the reasons for my reluctance to move00:32:02
because I know nothing and nobody there00:32:08
And if I'm destined to lose everything here then let it be so00:32:12
– When did you last speak to Gerkus?00:32:15
(Caption: Ilya Gerkus was the president of "Lokomotiv" from 2016 to 2018
He played an important role in Denisov's move from "Dynamo" to "Lokomotiv")00:32:23
– After he was fired, I guess00:32:26
As far as I can remember00:32:28
– You parted ways quite respectfully, didn't you?00:32:32
– Of course! I consider him as a top-manager. He is a top for Russian football!00:32:38
What he has done to "Lokomotiv" in 1,5-2 years – it's fantastic00:32:43
– Why hasn't he worked in football since?00:32:46
– I have no idea. Because it's our Russian football. Here we go again00:32:51
A man took charge of "Lokomotiv" that hadn't won the League for 14 years00:32:57
He then signed a guy from the beach, me from the Second division (from "Dynamo")00:33:04
He constructed that team. It all happened thanks to him: we won the Cup, then we won the League00:33:13
And then they fired him...00:33:15
Are you sick? Are you?!00:33:20
Kiknadze (came after Gerkus) approaches me to ask for a salary cut by €300k00:33:25
If you need this – do it yourself. I turn back and leave00:33:27
In a year's time they stole €30 million euro from the team's budget00:33:30
– Are you sick?! And it's like this all over. What can we say?00:33:35
That's why he is no longer employed00:33:37
– However he speaks out and that's how he welcomed the news on the 24th of February00:33:42
"The start of the military operations at Donbass is the right decision. The president has already explained what it is done for. To my mind it all makes sense. I support our army and the decision of Vladimir Putin. Russia does the right thing", – said Gerkus in an interview for Sport2400:33:54
– Yes, I was told he said so. – How did you react?00:33:56
– That's his view. I don't know what to say00:33:58
I can't dig into his soul. My reaction: of course I disapprove of this
I can't understand it00:34:04
Still are we talking football or... let's separate those things00:34:08
– Let's separate. Those things he said...00:34:10
– In terms of football I think he is a top. But I disapprove of his statement, to say the least00:34:17
– You can't explain why he says such things. – I can't, I don't know00:34:22
– Do you know or do you understand why Anatoliy Timoshchuk has been keeping silence?00:34:25
(Caption: Anatoliy Timoshchuk currently works as an assistant manager at "Zenit"
He had 144 caps for Ukraine national team)
00:34:27
(Caption: Anatoliy Timoshchuk currently works as an assistant manager at "Zenit"
He had 144 caps for Ukraine national team)
– He's the one I can't understand at all
I know Tima, he's been my role model so many times00:34:34
(Caption: The only time Timoshchuk spoke out was on the 24th of February when he posted an instagram story saying: "We need peace. For the sake of our children and our parents, for life on Earth")
I don't... I can't dig into other people's souls. I don't know why it is happening00:34:40
(Caption: The only time Timoshchuk spoke out was on the 24th of February when he posted an instagram story saying: "We need peace. For the sake of our children and our parents, for life on Earth")
Why money has such big influence on people...
I don't know... I can't... pfff explain. I don't know00:34:49
I know him as a decent awesome guy. He was a top player, a machine00:34:54
I owe him a lot, he taught me so much good00:34:58
Then again he could sit somewhere and say Denisov is wrong and I'm right
Can be so00:35:07
– How did you react on the UEFA ban for the Russian national team and clubs00:35:11
– I'd say it is the right thing. The right thing? – Yes. – Please explain00:35:16
– Because, as I told my sister...00:35:21
you (that's how I see it)... you, me, everyone here in the room is involved in what's happening00:35:29
That's my opinion00:35:31
I don't understand politics but we elect...
I'd like to believe that we do elect the government. And then this happens00:35:40
I stand for more sanctions and limitations because this should be stopped00:35:46
And it only can be stopped by tough measures towards us00:35:52
We are now laughing at the sanctions: they are not working, they are rubbish etc.00:35:56
No! Our football has slided down significantly and it will be worse without European competitions next year00:36:04
Once again, I apologize, that's how I see things. That's not the one and only right way00:36:10
But I see everything that's happening now as a disaster. That's it00:36:16
– You said one thing at the tea room. It seems very important to me
You said we're all to blame. – Yes, everybody00:36:23
– What do you blame yourself for?00:36:27
– For the situation that escalated. My sister says we couldn't have affected it but something still tells me00:36:34
that we just can't get our views across to the government00:36:38
For instance I am totally convinced this conflict is wrong00:36:41
but I don't speak about it. Just today when you invited me to do so00:36:44
But my words won't change a thing. A thousand voices won't change anything00:36:50
A million won't matter, only 140-150 million people speaking out could ring the changes00:36:58
but unfortunately people are split by their views: 50/50 or 60/40
Some support the operation, some don't00:37:05
And if our country went for it I consider it as our collective guilt00:37:15
– Igor, what do we do? I thought about it a lot as well because...00:37:19
you say we couldn't translate our views. But how could we do it if a lot of Russian people believe our country is doing the right thing00:37:26
They believe that the people of Donbass have been tortured for 8 years00:37:31
that there was genocide of Russians at Donbass. This point is also very popular00:37:35
How do we deal with it? This is people's point of view and there are a lot of them00:37:39
– Yes, for example my sister says so. – What can you do about it?00:37:42
– I don't know00:37:44
It is like it is. I can't answer this question in any way00:37:49
I just want to say: "Don't watch TV. I don't even know what kind of advice to give"00:37:55
I don't watch TV at all00:37:59
But if I had been watching it every day for the last 8 years00:38:03
I could have had another opinion. But I don't watch any of it00:38:10
And I don't blame the people who turn on the news in the morning and get brainwashed00:38:15
Then they turn on the TV at lunch and see the same thing00:38:18
And then another time in the evening00:38:21
And that's how it has been going for many years. I think that might affect anyone00:38:27
My sister is very smart, very witty. Well the wit is something relative, but she's definitely not stupid00:38:38
She has her own view – that's my sister! I know how she thinks00:38:44
And I can't make my own sister change her mind, it's impossible
She doesn't think the way I do00:38:52
So if we can't figure out what's right and what's wrong inside our family00:38:59
how can we influence other people and other families? No way!00:39:05
– In January 2021 you spoke out about Navalny00:39:09
"Hi everyone, it's Igor Denisov
I've never been interested in politics and I'm not going to00:39:14
but now it's not about politics
I want to show support for Alexey Navalny and his family:00:39:20
his children, his wife and himself. I respect him a lot. He should be free
Peace and love to everybody"00:39:27
It was quite a high profile move00:39:30
When did Russian politics start to interest you?00:39:33
– I tell you what: I don't care about Navalny, honestly
I don't know him personally, he knows me even less00:39:40
I don't know if he is a good or a bad person, if he could make a good or a bad president00:39:44
I stood against the fact that a person can be poisoned and then imprisoned for speaking out00:39:52
It's the same for me: I'm talking to you now and in a week they might whack me somewhere00:39:56
If it's considered normal, we will carry on living this way00:40:00
I expressed my view that it's not right
And I believe that the actions shouldn't be made by force00:40:10
They should run the country in such way that the people like me (they're going to call me stupid and useless) wouldn't even watch the investigations of Navalny
He shouldn't be a big deal00:40:22
But I stand against that this man... he just does what he does00:40:29
but why do they jail him? I can't understand this00:40:34
Engage in a dialog! Try to communicate, he is a human being after all00:40:40
Once again: I don't know if he is good or bad. I don't know him personally
I just spoke about the situation in general00:40:48
In my opinion this is unacceptable, this is totally wrong00:40:53
– Did you get stick for that video?
– No, why? I didn't agitate to go on rallies or something00:41:00
– I mean your friends could have asked you why you did it or something00:41:07
– No, nothing like that. Again I called Misha (Prokopets). I just wanted to reach out00:41:14
I don't know if it's right or wrong, I just felt I should. My mom told me not to do it00:41:21
I can't help it. I am what I am00:41:26
If we talk politics... to discuss politics you should be good at history, you should be well read – that's not me00:41:35
I'm telling you honestly: I'm just a sportsman00:41:38
I have my own vision of what's right and wrong. Maybe it's wrong as well00:41:42
But it shouldn't be done this way. That's how I see it. That's it, end of story!00:41:48
– Have you changed your opinion about Navalny for the past year?
There are talks and rumours...00:41:54
– No no... let's say... what he was doing – those investigations – everyone watched them in our team when I played for "Lokomotiv"00:42:04
I was just smiling – those things were no surprise to me00:42:10
To be honest I don't care about other people's money... at all00:42:16
But I always expressed my point: a person has the right to say whatever he wants00:42:22
Everything he wants – he should be able to say!00:42:24
If he wants to go out anywhere – let him do it. Whatever he wants to do – let him do it00:42:33
I want to live such a life that my children would feel free00:42:36
I don't want to be afraid to say anything, to be afraid for my life, for my family
I don't want that00:42:42
I'm speaking to you very frankly but I don't know, I have no idea what might follow
I am like this00:42:51
As for Navalny I was sure he would come back to Russia and I was sure he would be put to prison00:43:00
I said it to my wife, it was a no-brainer for me that he would return
Such people as him...00:43:10
Take myself for example
If I have my own opinion I won't change it even if you jail me tomorrow00:43:15
Because if I change it I won't be able to live on00:43:20
You better kill me!
I better die free than live suppressed and in fear of saying something00:43:30
But that's me. And others might say that I'm crazy, I'm insane,
"what could you expect from that moron"00:43:39
– Artem Dzyuba said in 2018 that he would like to lead an army, get into a war00:43:44
(Caption: "I'm attracted to everything connected with war conflicts now. I would like to lead an army, get into a war", – said Dzyuba in May 2018)
Cherchesov used to call himself a field commander after the Euros00:43:49
(Caption: "I'm attracted to everything connected with war conflicts now. I would like to lead an army, get into a war", – said Dzyuba in May 2018)
I don't know their point of view on the current events00:43:54
But do you think there are many people in Russian football who support what's happening in Ukraine00:44:02
– I don't know... You're reading this now, doesn't it make you laugh?00:44:07
It is... zero comments... I don't know what to tell you00:44:10
It's a madhouse00:44:12
– Has sport ever stayed or will it ever stay out of politics?00:44:17
– It should be. But not under current circumstances
Once again I support the current ban00:44:25
I tell you what:
If every player and every manager or coach spoke against (the Russia's actions)00:44:33
and we were still banned – I would say it's unfair00:44:38
But now when everybody keeps silence I support the ban00:44:41
– It will damage Russian football for 5-10 years because we will miss at least a year of European football00:44:49
and we will come back in completely different status and with different resources00:44:52
How should they explain it to the Russian players? It is killing our football... – Yes00:44:58
It is already killed. It is not being killed, it's dead00:45:01
You're right, we will recover in at least five years, more likely in ten00:45:06
And how will you explain that we have been playing since 2002 working our socks off to have 3 teams in the Champions League?00:45:14
We put so much effort into the resurgence, the new...00:45:21
– A new page was written: two UEFA Cups, Euro 2008
– Yes, and now we are back to the 90s00:45:26
But again if everybody from the world of football spoke out I would... but no one does00:45:35
Well keep on being silent... and take that!00:45:37
Forget about the Europe for the next 10-15 years00:45:42
We used to dream about Champions League semi-finals, now we will dream just about qualifying for Europa League00:45:48
But it's the reality and now it's time to think how we can use this time
It has already happened regardless of what we say00:45:57
I think we should now think how to move on00:46:01
– You said you would have quit football in such circumstances
But imagine a young Russian player, a 22-23-25-year old00:46:11
– No, if I was 22 I wouldn't... – What would you do? – At 22 I was completely reckless00:46:19
I have no idea what I would do... probably I would get wasted with vodka (both laugh)00:46:26
If I was about 30 and had mature perception of things I would quit but unlikely at 2200:46:31
– Ok, but if a guy is 22 what should he do?
Should he try his best to go to a European club or prove himself here?00:46:40
– I guess it depends on the RFS (Russian Football Union) and its strategy00:46:45
I'm now starting to think about it. Now it's just the time, the best time...00:46:52
obviously almost all our clubs are state-owned00:46:58
I would suggest they... again maybe they will say I'm talking bollocks00:47:04
But still there is budget. Split it equally among all the clubs and get rid of all the foreign players. There is no need for them00:47:09
– You would play without foreigners...
– Completely! We don't need them. What do we need them for?00:47:15
Split the budget and make a league with equal resources for all the clubs00:47:21
Later when the ban is lifted invite foreigners step by step but by that time you will have a choice among Russian players00:47:31
And believe me they will develop, they will progress during that time
And then top internationals could be brought in00:47:37
But if after all that happened we won't make any changes then I don't know...
it's a dead end00:47:47
All the money that the foreigners are paid... €3 million a year or so...
save it for the development of children's football00:47:54
Children's football!00:47:56
Guys, I'm seizing the occasion, I want to say: "Dig into the children's football!"
I ask everyone of you to just do it and then you''ll see how horrible it is00:48:08
Except for the "Zenit" academy or the "Krasnodar" academy
Surely they are perfect, they are super – the picture is wonderful. But dig deeper00:48:16
There shouldn't be just 3-4 decent academies for the whole country
There should be 104, 200 competitive football schools00:48:25
And there should be more kids, not 10 thousand but 50 thousand, roughly speaking00:48:33
Now is the time to pay attention to children's football00:48:37
– Your words are filled with despair. Quite a common feeling nowadays. How are you overcoming it? It has already been 4 months... How do you pull yourself together?00:48:49
– I started training kids... just that00:48:55
I went for it on purpose because I couldn't stay home00:48:58
It's an amateur team, my kids have been training there for more that 1,5 years00:49:05
We've just switched to the 6+1 format. I asked the coaching staff if I could try just to understand... not if I'm able to do it but if I might be interested in this00:49:18
I went to the very bottom, the amateur league...00:49:24
voluntary of course. I suggested we could attract more kids.
If I'm involved they might spread the word and there would be more interest00:49:37
The training is not for free obviously – so it's a win-win: higher wages for other coaches and I would feel good not thinking about anything but kids00:49:45
I have also bought different equipment for them00:49:49
We are training at Petrovo-Dalneye, our team is called "Sphere of football"00:49:53
My children took up football when they were 8. But then covid broke out and they haven't been training for 7 months so it's fair to say we have been training for 1,5 years00:50:00
I never wanted my kids to do anything with this dirty Russian football, I stood against that00:50:05
But they begged me: "We want it so bad!" – "Ok, let's go"00:50:08
There are very little chances to get accepted to an academy. You see...00:50:13
There are loads of questions. I have now immersed into this...
there are many questions that have no answers00:50:19
Take organization of children's football from amateur leagues to academies00:50:24
You know my kids were born on the 18th of December 2011 – they are "laties"00:50:30
Those who were born in the beginning of the year... – It's easier for them...
– The difference is crazy!00:50:38
I talked to the coaching staff to say that I wanted to give kids a chance
For instance we have mixed teams of 2011 year of birth, 2012, 2013...00:50:46
I wanted to give the "laties" from those teams a chance because there were 3-4 boys who could break through if they wanted to00:50:52
I asked them to give me 6-12 months... there are my kids as well...
in 6 months we'll try to get to an academy again00:51:02
One day you have to leave amateur football behind and try to progress00:51:08
– What is the most disappointing thing about children's football? – Everything00:51:13
Absolutely everything. For example...00:51:16
I liked it a lot that...
Well I can say many bad things about the "Zenit" first team in the elite league00:51:21
But I've been to the "Zenit" academy, they've built wonderful infrastructure, they have got it all00:51:26
The coaching staff is strong, the kids are good... everything's perfect...
but there are no academy graduates in the first team00:51:34
I spoke to Vasiliy Kostrovkiy, he used to be my childhood coach00:51:38
(Caption: Vasiliy Kostrovskiy is a coordinator of children's and youth "Zenit" teams
He brought up Denisov, Vladimir Bystrov, Oleg Vlasov)00:51:44
I tell him: "Vasiliy, you have all you need: awesome pitches, as many kits and boots as you want. Where are the graduates?"00:51:52
Where are they? There is a common argument that Semak doesn't want to teach the youngsters00:52:00
He wants ready made shaped footballers. Well if he wants so they need to do something, to change something considering the circumstances00:52:08
If Semak says he wants ready made players they have to be made ready00:52:12
But if they have worked the same way for many years they get the same result in the end00:52:16
As for amateurs. Say, I go to an amateur league match with my kids00:52:23
We play against equal amateur teams. But some "smart" coach asks a top-player through his mate or just someone he used to coach00:52:33
For example were playing at a tournament. There came a guy who was the captain of "Chertanovo" to play against our amateur kids00:52:43
I can't understand what for
So the organization of such tournaments is also something I don't get00:52:47
It's the same as if... so that you understand: by the time I was 11 I had won almost everything in the city, was one of the best players of the city00:52:55
and someone would call me to ask to play for amateurs00:52:57
I would have come, easily win all the games in 5 minutes by myself and go home – that move would easily change everything00:53:04
The organization of the amateur league is a disgrace, the same applies to other tournaments00:53:09
Yes, the pitches are good, there are other good things but the aspiration of coaches to win a tournament no matter what is nonsense00:53:17
The aspiration to win a tournament with an academy team, to win the league with an academy team is also nonsense00:53:23
I have found it out just recently: why a coach standing on a touchline is constantly yelling at kids that they must win00:53:32
Because we go back full circle to the salaries. It turns out if you win a city championship with an academy you get some kind of a certificate00:53:34
Not "license A" of course but a possibility to go and coach on a higher lever00:53:45
Your salary goes from 50k rubles up to 65k...00:53:49
It sounds crazy but they also have kids, they should feed them
But this way we are losing football, we are losing it completely00:53:56
And we are fighting for the result at children's tournaments. Why? I don't get it00:54:01
– Imagine that hypothetically... I was talking to my mate yesterday...
just close your eyes and imagine a picture00:54:07
We were just sitting there chatting with my wife and him for quite a long time about this interview00:54:11
I told them to imagine... Take "Spartak" academy
"Spartak" has won the Cup, the fans went mad00:54:19
Russian Cup was like the Champions League for them
The atmosphere was phenomenal00:54:23
And imagine children's football: Alenichev coaches the 2012 year of birth team00:54:28
Titov coaches the 2011 team... every legend is involved. And there is Russian league00:54:34
They would go to St Petersburg to play against Kerzhakov as a head coach...
just imagine!00:54:40
There would be full house. I'm just sure there would00:54:43
I believe that if Miller (Gazprom chairman) orders to do so, Miller would take the initiative... they could go together with Fedun ("Spartak" chairman)00:54:53
Two of them could easily make it happen... just like that
And that would happen in a year00:54:59
If they said: "We need this" people and ideas would turn up00:55:05
But when I listen to Alexandr Dyukov (I have listened to his interview as the head of the RFS in brief) I understand that his head is stuffed with...00:55:13
how to improve the Russian Cup format... why? What do we need it for? I don't get it... I mean for now00:55:21
I can call him and, to say more, he will ask me to come00:55:24
But he must be the one to take the initiative, not me00:55:27
If Miller says his word... Miller. It will be done00:55:31
But if I call him to express my ideas, to ask for a place at the meeting table...00:55:38
he doesn't give a damn! If he needs it, if he is 100% sure that it's the right thing00:55:46
then of course... but as I see things he doesn't need it at all00:55:52
I believe the initiative should not come from outside, they should be the ones to take it00:55:58
He may not like my ideas, he may listen to someone else
Someone could suggest something better00:56:04
It's just when there is total understanding that there is need for changes people will turn up, ideas will appear and money will come00:56:11
But if he sits on his chair and thinks: "Why the hell do I need it? It might be another fraud and robbery... I might look like a fool in a year again"00:56:23
Then there is no way to get it done00:56:24
Take a look: it's a breathtaking place, fantastic... – The atmosphere is superb
– I ask those who are watching the video: "Guys, please, invest in football pitches...00:56:33
Do some good for kids". It costs 7 million rubles to make a new pitch and it can be rented00:56:39
I don't know who owns this land, that must be another space-level person
But he should realize this is a place where kids are training00:56:44
You could buy a pitch, rent it out and in 5 years you would get your money back. But for kids it's a wonderland00:56:50
Last year I wasn't part of the coaching staff, I went just like a father
We came to a training camp in Croatia and I swear it was just a village00:56:59
There were three perfect natural pitches! We were training there and I told Lena:
"No way there are three top-class pitches at such a place!"
Plus there were two great artificial ones00:57:12
Five pitches in a Croatian village. No words needed00:57:17
Moscow region. Rublyovka (luxury countryside destination) is ten minutes away from here. Where is the pitch? Please, people, explain me where it is00:57:25
And then they demand something from our players. What can you demand? You should provide infrastructure and then ask for results00:57:30
You come to Croatia and see fantastic natural pitches at a very small place. Why?
Can I be the one asking questions now? (laughs)00:57:42
– Can you tell me how they do it? – I don't know but I know for sure that as a consequence the Croatians can boast a Champions League winner every year00:57:50
And their national team got to the World Cup final00:57:54
– If you ask me if there is a natural full-size pitch in the area...
– Ok Igor, is there a full-size pitch in the area? – There isn't00:58:06
The area is stuffed with billionaires for the next 15 kilometers. No pitches though...00:58:13
Not a single one. Not a single natural full-size pitch. Zero!00:58:20
– Bloody hell! – I said "bloody hell" five years ago! Bloody hell indeed
– I will never get this00:58:27
– Alexandr Dyukov, there are some questions for you (laughs)00:58:30
– We need to change our system of children's football completely
Everyone involved should... (whistles) go with the wind00:58:40
– You know the usual argument in such cases: "Who would replace them?"00:58:45
– I tell you what. Let's fantasize. Let's say you give a current coach a million dollar salary instead of 25k – it will change nothing00:58:53
– That's my point. So what do we do? – The system should change and new generation should be brought up for the new system. Step by step00:59:04
I hope that my actions will speak louder than words. I started coaching kids. I want to try to implement my ideas. I don't know if I am able to do it00:59:15
But I'm trying. I tell them not to pay attention to any distractions: other coaches might yell at their players. I tell them to try to play football our way00:59:24
To play football, to enjoy it and to forget about the result
It shouldn't be at top of mind in children's football. It's a joke00:59:35
So, what to change? I've mentioned "Zenit" academy. It's an amazing academy
It's a big deal they have it in St Petersburg00:59:44
But as I said previously... life will show if I'm right or wrong
Until the age of 11 kids should be taught the basics: first touch, dribbling, passing00:59:55
Any manager can do it. Not everyone of course, but roughly speaking...01:00:00
Then from 11 and up to 17 they should... they have to make kids play high pressing, quick passing (short and long), shoot a lot01:00:15
All of this despite the result. Result should be secondary
Football, the game itself comes first01:00:22
Just imagine for a second, ask yourself:
If a kid from the age of 11 to 17-18 every day... every goddamn day01:00:33
learns to play short and long passes, high pressing, combinations, to take shots,
what do we get in six years?01:00:43
But again we go back to the result because of the coaches' salaries
So there will be someone playing like this and some "smart" team will play defensively breaking them on the counters01:00:52
I'm sure it will be like this. So how to beat this – it is the problem to think about and to solve01:00:58
I say again. The salaries for children's coaches must be raised because the best coach at "Zenit" shouldn't be paid 100k rubles a month (it's maximum)01:01:10
I might be wrong but it's around that sum. – At "Zenit"?
– Yes. It shouldn't be like that, it's wrong01:01:15
I talked to Kerzhakov, I told him: "Kerzh, you shouldn't manage "Nizhniy Novgorod"
St Petersburg gave you life. Pay respect, work at "Zenit" for 2-3 years, train kids"01:01:31
He can show them... he is the greatest striker (I mean at the Russian level)
He should share his knowledge and abilities with them first and then go further01:01:40
But how can he come on a 100k salary? If you ask me I can theoretically come and work at the academy for free, for an idea01:01:49
Kerzh must be paid, but he can't be paid 100k rubles – he has three kids01:01:55
It just won't happen like this. There should be a system
I've been talking about it for ages
I asked them to get it across to Miller. To tell Miller that the system...01:02:04
They hired Henk. I take "Zenit" for example because it's my home club
Some Henk-menk came there, a Dutch guy01:02:11
(Caption: Henk van Stee was the academy director for "Zenit" in 2009 – 2014)
Changed the whole system and enjoyed the €10k salary01:02:15
(Caption: Henk van Stee was the academy director for "Zenit" in 2009 – 2014)
He said in the interview that in 5 years he would bring up 10 Denisovs, 10 Bystrovs... easily01:02:21
Six years later there hasn't been a single graduate in the first team Five years on since his departure – still no graduates. I mean top-level01:02:27
Then something is being done wrong01:02:30
– You say: "Get this message across to Miller"
Aren't you in touch with Miller or Dyukov? In the end you were a player who...01:02:38
– Not with Miller but Dyukov called me when we became champions
He used to congratulate me on my birthdays01:02:47
I have always had awesome relationships with him
I think he is a smart educated person, Dyukov01:02:53
But after I had changed my number we didn't speak on the phone01:02:57
As for Miller, no. I'm a misfit for him
When it all happened... you remember how it was at "Zenit". I'm done for him01:03:07
– Have you ever been invited to coach at "Zenit" or at any Moscow academy or offered any official status in football?01:03:17
– Well... Everyone knew that before one month ago I hadn't had any interest in it at all
I had said I wouldn't go anywhere01:03:28
Of course if I say I'm ready, I want to take up a job in the academy then...01:03:31
Arshavin works at "Zenit". I think we share the same perception of children's football01:03:37
And I'm hearing that... and I've met him recently (relatively recently)
We agreed that kids from the age of 11 should work a lot on their fitness01:03:49
No patting on the head saying: "Oh aren't you tired, you poor baby"
There should be no such thing01:03:56
But it shouldn't be one person at a club to think so
There should be five or six of them united with the same idea and the same system01:04:04
And all the teams of all ages should follow
The 2011 team can't play differently from the 2012 one01:04:09
There should be a pyramid with graduates at the top of it01:04:15
Football, as we've just discussed, is a cool sport. And it is measured by the final result01:04:22
But there is no final result at "Zenit" because there are no graduates01:04:25
It means something's wrong and should be done another way, we have to try at least01:04:29
I open YouTube... you can choose any video: team 2005, team 2003, 2006...
Watch any game: Russian league, Moscow or St Petersburg city championships01:04:41
You will see the tempo that will make you sleep
You will fall asleep! Any team of any age01:04:47
Apart from the 12-13-year-olds who play on small pitches: 5x5, 6x6 – it's a pleasure to watch. A small pitch means higher tempo01:04:57
But when they play 11x11 – it's a disaster01:05:01
A disaster! What do they do next? I used to talk to Fursenko or to Mutko01:05:07
They have scrapped the second teams championship
When I got to the second team there were five seniors playing01:05:12
Try to stop there for a second, just try to stand still on the pitch
There are five seniors and five youngsters around you01:05:19
Try to give up on a sprint. There is no such thing now
Now there are youth leagues of all kinds... it's bollocks. What for?01:05:27
Kids graduate from the academy and go on playing with their peers01:05:31
Whatever cool league you invent they carry on playing in this tempo01:05:35
Who would you pick from there for the first team? Who?01:05:38
They should adapt for 6-8 months just to match the fitness level01:05:44
And from there you can see if they fit the first team or not01:05:48
– So they need to play in a squad with senior footballers as they did at second teams? – Of course, 100%01:05:54
For instance, I'm two times Russian youth champion, six times St Petersburg champion. Who cares about it?01:06:02
I would tell it to my kids. They would look at me and ask: "So what?"
I agree: "So what?"01:06:08
By the way I've recently spoken to my youth coach
He told me that when Henk arrived he was surprised they made 14-15-year-olds run so much, they should have played with the ball more01:06:20
I said: "Look, we are Russians"01:06:23
A two-year-old Brazilian can juggle a ball 100 times
A two-year-old Russian will just fall over that ball. That's for sure01:06:31
An average African is two times stronger than an an average Russian
You can't cancel genetics01:06:42
I've always said that Arshavin has always been a top-class player for me
When at his best you wouldn't find a better player01:06:50
When he trained alongside me I was standing there with my mouth open01:06:55
There were very few players who matched him. But if he had been more powerful he would have become one of the best in the world 100%01:07:04
Such players as Arshavin are born once in what time...
in a decade I'd say. Hopefully there will be more01:07:12
But our football should depend on collectiveness and on physically fit and talented players, i.e. those who could adjust to one another, fight for one another, who would be strong01:07:24
And at the same time well aware tactically01:07:27
Then again I stand against a Russian manager at the head of the national team
– Against? – Yes, against. Absolutely01:07:39
All the best things in Russian football happened thanks to the foreign managers
All the best!01:07:46
Advocaat arrived at "Zenit" and played 4-3-3. Imagine it in 2006
In 2005 or 2006 he presented us the 4-3-3 system01:07:56
We were looking at him like this: "What is it?" – "How is it played, right?"
– Yes, just how...01:08:02
He said in Holland they had always played like that but we had no idea...
and it was "Zenit"01:08:10
Spalletti arrived and loaded us with 5-hour pre-season training sessions
We didn't win a single game that pre-season. I asked him: "Why?"01:08:17
He called me to the gym, gave me an exercise at a fitness machine in front of the team as I was one of the strongest01:08:23
He set up a weight – everyone went laughing01:08:26
I couldn't move it. He then sat on my place, did it ten times and left01:08:30
A manager! Spalletti01:08:32
Can you even understand the comprehensive difference in football development?01:08:36
Capello until he went mad...01:08:40
Even if we take Capello. He came in charge and we came first in a group...01:08:48
– With Portugal. – Yes, we won the first place in World Cup qualifiers01:08:51
Every substitution made an impact, every decision was A+
We were leading the group, we were beating Portugal, but then...01:09:02
– Why did you say he had gone mad? – Because he went mad for real
You should ask him. Call him and ask why it happened so01:09:11
We qualified for the Brazil World Cup
I was 29, Kerzh was 30, Bystrov – 29, Anyukov – 3001:09:17
He said we needed squad refreshment. You should remember that interview
– Yes, for 2018. – Right, for 201801:09:23
Are you crazy? We hit our top form, we have the World Cup in Brazil ahead and you say we should play youngsters01:09:30
There are young lads who didn't play a single game in the qualifiers...
and nobody raised concern01:09:36
I'm asking you now:
"Why? Has anyone told him anything? Why did it happen like this?"01:09:41
Berezutskiy said in an interview that we had reached such a level that we could...
He was right!01:09:46
Because we were in good, in awesome form, perfectly fit
We had a month of preparation before Brazil01:09:51
And he just scrapped all our efforts, counted on the youth...01:09:56
– Can you imagine it was an RFS strategy?01:10:00
– I can imagine all the things in the world. I tell you what...
– The bosses could have told him to play the youth ahead of Russia 201801:10:07
– I'll just say it was total bullshit01:10:10
that I didn't understand back then and still don't get at all. Remember the outcome?01:10:15
– A failure01:10:17
Everyone said that our football was shit, our footballers were even worse01:10:22
Later on we played the Euro qualifiers01:10:25
and were sitting 4th or 5th in one of the easiest groups01:10:30
He made a left back play a left forward01:10:33
– He used to play guys from second teams who hadn't even been capped in the Russian league before. – Exactly01:10:39
Then Slutskiy came in, brought everyone back... but that's not the case01:10:43
Why did everyone keep silence?
Why hasn't anybody ask the particular question: "What are you doing it for?"01:10:49
"Why did you fail the Brazil World Cup?" I think it was him who failed it01:10:53
I'd say it was our, the players' fault when we lost to Slovenia with Hiddink and missed the World Cup 2010. Including myself, I wasn't fit enough playing in the starting XI01:11:03
But that was Capello's personal failure
He trusted the youngsters at the World Cup when we were 29-30 years old01:11:10
A year later Slutskiy brought us back, we won five matches out of five and qualified for the Euro 201601:11:18
It means we were capable of something...
but as I say it's just ridiculous and hard to explain
I still can't understand what happened back then01:11:26
– Let's go back to foreign managers. Until they lose their mind they are very useful
– Yes, they are a completely different breed01:11:34
– But at the same time you say we have our own philosophy in Russian football:
unity, physicality etc.01:11:42
How do we combine it? Do we invite foreigners and explain them our traditions?01:11:46
– Look, Advocaat... no, let's take Semak's example first
You can't fall out with him, I've never had a brawl with him because he is the most gracious person on Earth. I'm not like him at all01:12:00
Look what he is doing
He is now sending a clear message that he needs ready made players01:12:04
Ok, that's his philosophy. You either adapt to it or you don't01:12:09
Now I'll tell you what Advocaat did
He bought Timoshchuk for 20 million and trusted free and hopeless Denisov01:12:15
Do you get it? He believed. And he succeeded. The philosophies are different01:12:20
Which one is right? The right thing is that "Zenit"...01:12:24
They say they won three or four leagues in a row but I say every their season is a total failure01:12:31
– Currently? – Currently and last year and the year before01:12:35
It's a total failure because Europe shows everything01:12:38
That's what I think
I'd say whoever took charge at "Zenit" would become the Russian champion01:12:46
I'm 99% sure. Unless a meteorite falls down on Earth... it's a fact01:12:52
– Let's recall your football idol when you were 16-1701:12:56
– At 16-17 I already ran out of idols. – And before that?
– Before that I supported "Juventus", I liked Del Piero and Zidane01:13:03
– No way! Del Piero was my idol at that time as well! – I even played against him01:13:07
We met him. In 2008 I played in the Champions League against "Juve" with Del Piero, Nedved... and Trezeguet was still there as I remember01:13:15
– So how was your idol Del Piero? – Well he was... – Old already
– Yes, but still he scored from a free kick...01:13:22
– From 40 meters! – Well... – Ok, 38. – Yes (laughs)01:13:28
He was already... a bit sluggish
But damn his right foot was good, he used to perform miracles01:13:36
And back in the childhood when I supported "Juventus" I used to play №10
I did very well, I scored a lot as a kid01:13:43
I even copied his... remember his laces? – Of course, they were hanging...
– Yes! And I took them off my sneakers and just tied them here (laughs)01:13:53
– And wore №10? – Yes, I've always been a 10 in my childhood
Then I took 27 and kept it01:14:00
– And did you play like Del Piero? – I don't know how he kicked the ball that way...01:14:04
Although I've heard in some interview that it can be trained if you make a thousand shots01:14:08
But I'm sure if you gave me a million free kicks I would hopefully improve by... 1% (laughs)01:14:18
I'll never be able to kick the ball as he does01:14:21
– And from those you played against who was the best?01:14:27
– Scholes! – Scholes?!01:14:30
– For me he was an absolute top. – In what way was he unique?01:14:33
– We played the Supercup against "Man United" and I remembered for life his...01:14:38
You know it doesn't hit the eye of a regular spectator01:14:43
but after the game I said that he was... every ball that comes to him...01:14:50
He doesn't care if you press him or not. He would always turn around with one touch and give a diagonal pass with the next one. With both legs01:14:59
I tried to tackle him once, twice. I don't know how he does it01:15:04
– Every time he moved in the opposite direction? – Every single time01:15:08
(Caption: In that Supercup Scholes also scored with his hand on the 89th minute
but the referee noticed it and sent him off for a second yellow)
Even when I stuck to him he found those split seconds...01:15:12
(Caption: In that Supercup Scholes also scored with his hand on the 89th minute
but the referee noticed it and sent him off for a second yellow)
Maybe it was just one game but I felt it good and it was enough for me01:15:17
I also remember when I played against Germany
I ran into Ballack and bounced off him01:15:20
That made me start the gym01:15:23
When I put my body against him... I thought I was... – Powerful? – Yeah01:15:28
But when I bounced off him my bones just... collapsed and I thought:
"Wow, ok. I won't go for it second time"01:15:37
– Igor, what was the last Russian Premier League match you watched?01:15:40
– In full? No, you can't be serious. I didn't watch any01:15:46
How can I watch it and what for?01:15:49
– So the last game you watched (with a Russian team involved)
was "Zenit" vs "Betis"?01:15:52
– Yes, I watched the full away game01:15:55
– And do you know who the Russian league top scorer is? – No, surely not01:15:59
– So you haven't heard of Gamid Agalarov... – No
– And of the "Dynamo" Moscow young talents?01:16:03
– Unfortunately not. No offense, I believe they are talented
I beg their pardon just so you know... but no01:16:09
To be honest when I retired I told my wife that very day...
I'll quote my own words for you:01:16:17
"Our Russian football made me want to vomit"01:16:20
Because since I knew a lot, almost everything about it I didn't want to work anywhere near it01:16:26
And now I took up coaching just for... – Distraction. – And to strain my brain01:16:34
– Igor, you used to have a gang at "Zenit". There were local Russian lads:01:16:38
Arshavin, yourself, Bystrov, Kerzhakov, Anyukov came from Samara – you were the core of both "Zenit" and the national team01:16:45
You say that if you come to Russian football you will need your allies by your side
Can they be your allies? Or you have broken up...01:16:54
– Look, again, I texted Kerzh not long ago
I told him that my dream of a fool which will not come true01:17:02
It's a single chance, 1%...01:17:06
is that I, Kerzhakov, Arshavin... the likes of Bystrov, Shirokov...01:17:14
however people treat him I always stand by him. I know that he is not a fool01:17:19
Anyway I wish we found ourselves at "Zenit" as children's coaches
who would build a different youth development system01:17:28
I mean from the age of 11-12 to graduation01:17:32
And we would try it on our own so that no one would bother us for five years01:17:37
And in five years...
Fedor Lunnov (from "Zenit" youth department) called me the other day, I told him that01:17:44
And I asked him to get this idea across to Miller
To make me such a contract that I would work for free but01:17:49
if in six years our graduate would make his way to the first team I would get paid
If not... well, I would have worked for free01:17:57
I would turn around and say it didn't work out
But I'm sure I would succeed, I'm just sure that with another system...01:18:04
Another training system from the age of 12 onwards must bear fruit because there are no miracles01:18:12
– Why do you call it "a dream of a fool"? Can't they trust your idea?01:18:16
– Firstly it depends on those who gets this information across01:18:22
And secondly I'm sure Miller... well who am I to hate me?
I guess I am just long forgotten01:18:28
But he is the only person in charge of decisions... it's just him01:18:34
And who and how could tell him this... I don't think it's possible. It just won't happen01:18:41
– But he loves "Zenit", Miller. – I'll explain. I can come for free
Make up a contract as I've just told you: a graduate in 5-6 years – an n-sum01:18:51
But Kerzhakov won't come for free, Arshavin won't come for free,
Bystrov won't come for free, Shirokov won't come for free01:18:58
U11 team coach can be paid 100k a month
But not the coaches of the older teams – it's impossible01:19:10
They should teach kids receive the ball half-turned01:19:14
They should teach them play in different systems so that they were educated01:19:19
Semak says he isn't ready to teach them
He wants to get ready made players – so work and make it happen01:19:26
But in order to do this the salary shouldn't be 100k rubles,
it should be... I don't know... let's say 500k, maybe a million rubles01:19:36
But trust them. They trusted Henk. What was the outcome?
Nil, zero. No graduates. Then he must have been wrong in something01:19:45
Maybe they will agree now, say: "Ok Igor, let's go"
And in six years I will tell you in an interview: "I screwed up"01:19:53
But you know... you can't imagine the extent of my confidence01:19:59
Because even if you give a ball to an elephant at a circus and make him kick it every day for six years he will eventually score penalties01:20:08
There are no miracles
If an 11-year-old guy does the same things day in, day out until he is 1701:20:18
i.e. fitness, tactics, technique, playing in different systems, high pressing...01:20:28
Have a look at how we won the Europa League. Advocaat made us press01:20:34
To play defensively in Europe is a dead end. There are such strong strikers that you concede anyway, no matter how you tight your defense is01:20:45
You must play... I've watched "Zenit" play against "Betis"
How can you play so... how to put it mildly... cowardly in St Petersburg?!01:20:58
How? How can you beat this "Betis" in such style? To sit deep and dream of...
And that's just "Betis"01:21:05
Generally speaking it's just "Betis"01:21:08
No! In St Petersburg you should play with a high line! You should press!
You should play on the front foot!01:21:13
Ok, who cares if you lose 5:0... so what?01:21:17
Next year you will try again, again and again01:21:22
You should buy players that are able to press, to play 1v1, to score01:21:29
That fit that system but in no way a defensive one01:21:32
Because the fans in St Petersburg have always loved and respected their team playing on the front foot01:21:38
You ask any fan in 50 years – nothing will change01:21:43
And at the same time you need 2-3 homegrown players
That's what Advocaat did – it was perfect01:21:49
Take my time in "Lokomotiv". Some lads from the second team were brought in
Yes, they had won their championship...01:21:55
But they didn't understand the basics. They didn't understand they should receive the ball half-turned or look for the space between the lines01:22:01
These are the details that Semin (then first team manager) shouldn't have taught them01:22:08
We should have got ready made players. But how could we get them if they had been trained by a coach who hadn't understood that himself01:22:22
Just how the inside players should move into the zones01:22:25
– But why don't you believe it may work out? You say: "Who am I for Miller?"
But you used to be one of the leaders for "Zenit"
And as far as I know Miller was in love with that team...01:22:36
– He used to treat me very well
I'm sure he liked me very much until that... bustup, let's put it mildly01:22:45
But after what happened I'm sure I'm just a nullity for him. I'm sure he would just... (shows)01:22:52
– But he loves "Zenit". He wants the lads from St Petersburg to play, to develop01:22:58
– You know, if he wanted the lads from St Petersburg to play, they would have played already01:23:05
Semak can give an interview, let's say hypothetically:
"If I field three homegrown players we won't win the Russian league"01:23:12
How could you argue? No chance. There would be nothing you could say01:23:15
He speaks facts01:23:18
But then again a question arises for the academy01:23:22
Then they should seek common ground there01:23:25
As for me and the space-level person you are naming, I'm sure I'm a sand grain for him, I'm nothing01:23:31
Doesn't matter that together we have raised "Zenit" from their knees01:23:38
It was a long time ago. Not maybe from the knees but "Zenit" was in the Second division, when we arrived they were third01:23:43
Our generation won the second place, then Gazprom invested Only thanks to money Advocaat arrived, Timoshchuk arrived01:23:52
Other stars came to our club. We have seen it all: how they worked, how they trained, how they played, how a top-manager led the team01:24:02
And because of that we progressed
Only because of major investments. Many thanks to Gazprom for that01:24:09
– To sum up: you can return to Russian football
And the perfect path for you is via the children's team, right?01:24:17
– For the first steps it's perfect, sure
– So if tomorrow you are offered to become a director of football, will you refuse?01:24:25
– I remember I once said in an interview to "Sport Express" that coaching job is thankless01:24:34
and I would like to become...
or just to help "Lokomotiv" because I finished my career there01:24:41
If "Lokomotiv" called me now and offered to become a manager... let's imagine...
– Ok, let's imagine that01:24:48
– Honestly I would do two things: I would bring back Oleg Pashinin (I don't know why they fired him and Dmitriy Loskov) and the brother01:25:00
On these conditions I would take charge of "Lokomotiv"
Believe me, even being inexperienced...
– "Brother" – you mean Alexey Miranchuk, right? – Yes01:25:07
So even without any experience I could take "Lokomotiv" at least to the 2nd place in the Russian league next year01:25:11
I'm saying this... I'm just 100% sure. Ok, 99%01:25:20
But I'd like to say that now that I've dived into children's football and I've looked into the children's eyes, even on amateur level01:25:26
When I saw that children's amateur league...
you can't imagine how bright is the fire that it lit inside me01:25:33
I mean we'll all die sooner or later. And this is a chance to make a difference at least to some extent. I don't know whether it will work out but still01:25:38
But there are many ideas, there are initiatives. And now is the time to change children's football01:25:47
– Would you like your sons to become footballers?01:25:52
I mean professionals01:25:53
– Two years ago I was dead against that. Now how can I not support their dreams?01:26:00
They have eaten my brain with those football talks01:26:05
But again there are so many things to do apart from football. I make sure my children study well. And they are doing well. Unlike me they won't lose their education01:26:17
If I would or wouldn't like it...01:26:20
who cares? They ask – I do. I help them the best way I can
I share all my knowledge. In the end they aren't babies anymore01:26:29
Whatever happens, happens01:26:32
The most important thing is that they become decent human beings01:26:34
For me football is cool of course but...01:26:41
you know if my son wins the World Cup while being an asshole01:26:47
it will be hard for me to take01:26:50
It's important that they grow up kind, as well educated as possible and with a right outlook on life01:27:03
It's relative of course but now when I'm talking to my kids I like it how they are01:27:10
– You mentioned that working at your kids' football school you found yourself needed That sounded sincere but a little bit sad01:27:19
So didn't you feel needed outside your family after retirement?01:27:24
– I didn't. That's right01:27:27
I was lost to be honest01:27:30
I didn't leave home01:27:34
And now I got a chance to both play football and to help parents01:27:38
and I had so much pleasure! We've won a mini-tournament01:27:44
Hope I played a role in it. Anyway I've caught unbelievable state of mind01:27:50
– Is it fair to say that this is your main pleasure – to coach this children's team?01:27:55
– At the moment I can say I soaked into this, yes. I didn't think it would01:28:01
To train kids when they are looking at you...01:28:04
I'm not that kind of coaches that yell at children... imagine, I hear other specialists who tend to shout: "You moron, where are you passing that ball?!"01:28:14
They yell that to a kid!01:28:16
Sometimes I want to raise my voice at a child but when he comes and looks at me like that kitten from "Shrek" I start melting01:28:25
I didn't think it could touch me that much01:28:29
I like it a lot now... "now" is important because if we meet in a year I might say different things... but for now I'm enjoying it so much!01:28:48
– One! Two! Three! Vanya, play faster!01:28:51
– Well done! Eight, nine... yes, ten!01:28:55
– Aim! Yes, Danya! Harder!01:29:00
– Aim your shot... good01:29:03
With your horn01:29:14
– Igor, I saw your kids. They are doing great and they look so much like you01:29:18
I'd say, a lot! №27 and №28. – Yeah!01:29:20
– Danya and Vanya, right? – Correct
– Danya is 27, Vanya is 28? – Absolutely01:29:27
– I'd say Danya plays in your style...
– Yes, equally clumsy but always determined to win01:29:34
– And Vanya, №28, he is different... – He is more skillful, good on the ball...
– Like a young Del Piero! – (laughs) I wish he was, but unfortunately it's not so01:29:46
– Let's try to describe them. You said one is a future holding midfielder, the other is a striker01:29:52
– Firstly, I don't know if they play football. But if we dream, then yes Danya is just like me, totally my style. Even though I scored a lot as a kid01:30:01
And he resembles myself as an adult. Clumsy technique but no way he loses a challenge, even to bigger guys01:30:10
He would eat them alive. He might bounce off but still he would go for it01:30:15
As for Vanya, I might say he is even more skillful than I was at his age, he shoots better01:30:23
– He is born to play in attack. – He has a lot to work on, like every other player...01:30:31
– So this is the main difference:
Danya can't play like Vanya and Vanya can't play like Vanya (laughs)01:30:36
– Again, Danya is your copy! Just your copy!
Same positioning, same way of moving the ball forward. Indeed a little Igor Denisov!01:30:47
– He plays with desire. That's what I like about holding midfielders: I want them to be like pit bulls. But there should be an intelligent and competent partner by his side01:30:56
– Igor, how can you make your children... let's take Danya... how can you make him stay so hungry on pitch?
It is often said that football is a game for the hungry and aggressive01:31:09
Your family is quite wealthy, you've achieved a lot
How can you make your children feel hungry on the pitch?01:31:16
– You know it's... it's a huge problem. It all goes down to the family01:31:22
I have very strict discipline at home
They go to bed at 9pm sharp and wake up at 7am01:31:26
They get iPads only from Friday to Sunday01:31:30
What else... that's in brief01:31:32
– Just 3 days with iPads? – Yes. A bit more on holidays01:31:38
– Last year you said you were going to dive with a white shark
– Yes! – Have you done it? – No01:31:44
I'm not ready yet01:31:46
It's a big deal. – Is it dangerous? – Very dangerous01:31:48
I dive without a cage. If you aren't in a cage then it's serious business01:31:53
– Why do you do this in the first place?
You have children, you have your life, your family01:32:01
– When I'm underwater it's... phew... that's pure buzz01:32:07
– Is it a wish to challenge your fate? – No!01:32:10
When you study sharks' behaviour (and I've been doing it for quite a long time, I started when I was playing)01:32:15
I've read a lot on this topic. I guess I know almost everything about every shark01:32:20
You are more likely to be hit by a fallen brick than attacked by a shark01:32:28
They are such wonderful creatures that...
when you swim around them and they... it's just fantastic01:32:38
– Where can you meet a white shark? – Mainly in Africa
Of course you can go to Australia. Well, there are different places01:32:46
There is Africa. But they only do cage diving. No specialist would let you...
they wouldn't even train you to escape the cage and swim with it01:32:56
Not a single sensible person could do that01:32:59
You have to stay there for a very long time01:33:03
At first you dive in a cage, then another way, another way – studying their behaviour01:33:08
Don't believe those videos by National Geographic where people dive calmly to white sharks...01:33:14
Yes, they do dive. But before that they study every single shark01:33:18
Every shark tends to come to the same spot01:33:20
At first they feed it, then they put you down in a cage, then they study... aha!01:33:25
Say that female is pregnant – it is calm01:33:28
You can dive for it either with a snorkeling mask or with diving equipment01:33:34
Just like that. No sensible person would grab his mask and dive after just seeing a shark in open water – no way01:33:42
You need time for that. Time, time, time...01:33:46
I'm not ready yet. I'm scared. – You're scared? – I am01:33:52
– Another question on sharks. Your daughter has dived with a tiger shark. – Yes01:33:56
– How was it possible? How old was she and how did your wife Lena react?01:34:03
– Lena was angry to say the least01:34:07
But Vika herself wanted to do it. She was about... 13. 13-14 years old01:34:14
– And you gave her permission? – Yes, I was holding her hand when we dived01:34:19
There were 5 other men there with us. We surrounded her, the sharks were going circles around us and she was watching them by our side01:34:27
In the end she was very excited01:34:30
– And how did you feel when you saw your daughter take such risk?01:34:34
– Again I tell you that when you dive many many times you realize it's practically safe01:34:44
However funny it may sound, especially for our Russian-speaking people who don't understand anything about the underwater world01:34:50
it is really safe
Even if a wild shark arrives and you notice sudden movements, you just leave quietly01:35:02
You're just a guest in their world. If it's not in the mood, ok, I'll leave
Nice and slow – and you're gone01:35:11
You won't sort things out with a wild shark01:35:14
And I can't see any other reasons to say no. There's nothing to worry about01:35:22
– Your other affection is dogs, isn't it?01:35:25
– Yes. Well it was. Lena made me buy her a cat for her birthday01:35:32
Now we have two cats
I said I won't get another dog because both of my dogs died in my arms01:35:44
Literally in my arms. And another one, a girl, died in a clinic01:35:48
We got over it very hard. Catastrophically hard01:35:53
I said then... it's been how many... five years and I still can't get a dog01:35:59
So we got two cats: a Scottish Fold and a Maine Coon – they are fantastic01:36:07
– Where does that love and bond with the animal world come from?
Sharks, dogs, cats...01:36:12
– I don't know. I must have been born like that01:36:15
My kids are the same
They love every kind of animals, they just squeak when they see them01:36:22
– At the same time you say you almost don't have friends, that you don't try to make them...01:36:28
– It's not that I am not trying. I admit that it's hard being around me01:36:34
And it's hard to be friends with me. I have my close circle01:36:39
The word "friend" is a very strong word. There are very close people who tolerate me because they know me. I am thankful to them for that01:36:47
All my foolery, my statements
Sometimes they are sick, sometimes they are hard (I mean the statements)01:36:52
It's a bit easier with the animals I guess...01:36:56
– Than with humans?
– For me yes. Especially underwater. You come there without any...01:37:02
When I go in there I understand that I am a guest, I play by their rules01:37:08
And there are people who come and...
when you start arguing your friendship comes to an end01:37:16
It happens like this with people... unfortunately01:37:21
With my temper... what can I say? It's hard for me01:37:26
It's hard... I can communicate, I can communicate closely01:37:30
but the word "friend"... damn it's something... I think friends are made in childhood01:37:34
when you play together at the age of 8-10. To make a friend at 38...01:37:44
I think it's too strong and pompous to say01:37:48
– A simple guy "from the streets" Igor Denisov. – Yes
– Grew up very humbly. – Yes01:37:52
– Became a footballer. Has been partying for two years spending $10k a month01:37:57
– I'd say more...
– Doesn't matter. Then you changed. Provided your family and yourself01:38:04
Why can't many other players do the same?
They live like: football, big money, contracts, appeals – wasted everything01:38:15
– That's very easy to explain. – Please!01:38:19
– That's a piece of cake. You see...01:38:23
I said it ages ago: in every team which can afford it there should be a staff member who would teach young players financial awareness01:38:34
It's important. It's unbelievably important01:38:36
Just to have such a person. And he should work with children from the 9th grade of school to teach them how to manage finances01:38:46
I've been there, it's hard psychologically
You make a thousand rubles, the next day $140k fall down on your head01:38:54
Imagine that. I'm lost for words... there were four of us living in one apartment
Two of us were sleeping on one mattress and the other two – on a couch01:39:00
One-room flat, four people. And then kaboom! – Money!01:39:08
– Guess what! – You go crazy! – Completely crazy01:39:12
Someone may stop afterwards
I've pulled a brake. I've hit rock bottom, really that was mad01:39:18
I was lucky enough to meet my wife
If it wasn't for her you wouldn't be talking to me now. I would kick the bucket01:39:25
I'm sure 100%. I would die somewhere at the backstreet01:39:29
I am sure about it. But I met my wife, I realized...01:39:38
that I fell in love, I was sure about it01:39:41
Lena got pregnant. My mind toggled: I realized I would have kids01:39:46
However wacky I was, I had to give something to my children01:39:51
That was the thing that changed my mindset01:39:56
When I talk to young players now...
For instance, Kokorin – let's say something about him – he is different01:40:02
I talked to him multiple times
I asked him: "Sasha, what do you need your Lamborghini for?"01:40:06
Just what for, why? I don't understand why01:40:09
You have 10 years. Invest money. When you retire buy whatever you want01:40:16
It's hard, he has another vision. I told the same to Miranchuk brothers01:40:20
But I shouldn't be the only one talking
There should be an expert. Besides I'm not a good talker01:40:26
There should be an expert. And I also support the idea that every footballer who gets a salary... let's say $1 million a year...01:40:38
Considering you have 10 peak years throughout your career01:40:42
you get $10 million. $10 million, do you understand?
You shouldn't chase those cars, houses and spend it on chicks01:40:52
You should think about your future life01:40:54
If at least 60% of our footballers did like I say, 60% of their families would be able express their opinions, enjoy their life01:41:04
And it could go even further
They would succeed and tell those around them to do the same01:41:10
But our footballers think: "Well I'm 21 or 23. I have all the time in the world to play...01:41:20
I'll spend a million here, drink away another one, here and there01:41:24
A new contract will come – I'll start being smart later01:41:29
So they put it on hold
Take American football... rugby or how is it called? – It's American football01:41:37
– American football, right
They get $150 million there. And 80% go bankrupt after they retire01:41:44
Bankrupts! 150! You just let that sink in. Not for one, for at least several years01:41:49
Why? Because they have loans that they can't... they buy luxury houses, luxury cars, luxury clothes – all of it. But they end up with debts01:42:00
We should admit that we, the sportsmen, especially those street boys, aren't educated enough01:42:05
and I admit it. I almost didn't study at school01:42:09
I admit it, too. It was probably my fault. But I took the risk, I sacrificed my education01:42:16
for the sake of football. Believe me I trained a lot01:42:20
I knew my weaknesses. I knew what I had to do
I had two training sessions a day. I woke up at 6am. At 7am my friend and I01:42:31
(my friend on that time. I considered him a friend back then)01:42:33
We went to the morning training, then I went to school
I got back from the second training at 9pm01:42:39
and got dressed for a 30-minute run!
No matter what, even in winter. You can ask my mother01:42:45
Because I understood that I needed it. I knew what could make me succeed01:42:51
If it wasn't for football there wouldn't be me
I can't fraud people, I'm not a gang or mafia person01:42:57
I saw it very clear that without football I would be total zero01:43:04
I made it in football. Evolved to... zero something. I made it there01:43:12
– When you look at Kokorin, do you realize he didn't succeed as a footballer?01:43:20
– Of course! I pity him. I freaking pity him a lot!01:43:24
He is the best player... I'm lost for words. I spoke with my wife about it, too01:43:31
He is just the best player of the decade... ok, one of the best players of the decade01:43:38
who just ruined himself with his own hands01:43:42
Of course I'm sorry for him... I pity him01:43:46
– When you spoke to him did you understand it went in one ear and out the other?01:43:49
– You know, Kokorin...01:43:56
They show him on the news sitting in court just before being sentenced and smiling01:44:02
When he got arrested and trialed01:44:05
Well, he wasn't actually smiling01:44:06
He is naturally like that. It's written on his face01:44:09
On the other hand I even envy him that he takes things this way01:44:14
He is completely different – he is the polar opposite of me01:44:16
I think of something, do something, reflect on something that I might have done wrong01:44:20
If I say something wrong today I will go home bothering that I should have said something different...01:44:25
but he doesn't give a shit01:44:27
And that's awesome! We should accept it, he is that kind of person01:44:30
It's wonderful! I can't do that01:44:32
It's great that everyone's different. But he's ruined his career – that's for sure01:44:39
I talked to him so many times! I told him he had huge talent01:44:42
God give me his legs...01:44:45
If I'd had those I would have played for "Barcelona"01:44:48
Give me Arshavin's legs – I would have played for "Barcelona"01:44:51
But maybe if God had given me his legs I would have also been a fuck-up01:44:55
– You said you've been explained how to deal with money01:44:59
– Life explained it to me. – Life? – Yes, no one taught me01:45:03
My agent Pavel Andreyev... We spoke about it a lot01:45:10
I wouldn't say he explained it to me. It's just we were very close and I...01:45:17
Pavel, thanks a lot for everything! (bows)01:45:20
Again, he talked to me... there's no sense in explaining anything to a 19-year-old misfit01:45:27
It was hard because I thought I was the smartest and the greatest01:45:30
But he pushed me to it. He knew me from A to Z01:45:34
He worked me up to it. Step by step I sank in more and more and more...01:45:39
He was the only one who was pushing me... but very graciously01:45:44
Not like: "Denisov, you're stupid!
You're wasting money left and right instead of investing it"01:45:48
If he had told me that I would never have invested01:45:50
He was gentle. And he made me do something that turned out to be effective. Although I've lost a lot of money on the way01:45:57
Relatively much. For all my life I've lost about...01:46:02
60-70 million rubles... – As unlucky investments? – Just went out of the window01:46:08
– But it's something you should go through. – You should, it's essential01:46:11
– When a wave carried you off the boat you ended up 1x1 with a silky shark01:46:17
You said: "I realized I had been a sinner, I had been leading a wrong way of life"01:46:21
What do you regret the most about your life?01:46:25
– Regret...01:46:27
Phew... it's quite a philosophical one. I don't know01:46:31
I wouldn't say I regret anything to be honest01:46:33
If you took me back I would still do the same thing in every situation...
well almost the same thing01:46:41
I regret about one thing: that I didn't become the champion of Russia with "Anzhi"
For me that surely is a...01:46:45
yes, it might sound funny. – It's astonishing!01:46:48
– It is...01:46:50
I'm not a fan of Makhachkala, I'm not an "Anzhi" fan
It's just at that moment when I met Suleyman Kerimov I was sure we would become champions, that we would have a strong team01:47:02
not just able to compete with "Zenit" because I was mad at them at that time01:47:07
I was sure we would beat them 100% but it didn't work out01:47:12
And all my expectations were ruined in one day. I had no idea what to do next01:47:19
– Did you give yourself an answer why Kerimov made that move?01:47:23
Or maybe he explained it to you personally?01:47:26
– I don't want to expand on our personal talk. You can ask him if you want01:47:30
But it's a pity he didn't have more patience. I'm sure that if he hadn't done that we would have been champions
If not that year then the following one when we would have improved01:47:40
Because I was taken apart completely. We played the first two matches...
I've trained with Guus Hiddink for just eight days in pre-season01:47:50
and went straight into the Russian championship. I was a mess back then01:47:55
We should have waited. We should have waited for other players to gain fitness Because we had such a good team!01:48:02
Honestly! I was training and I couldn't see how that "Anzhi" could lose to anybody
It was a super team from my perspective01:48:09
But it's Russia...01:48:11
To put it in one word... – Laconically! (laughs) And logically01:48:16
– I thought you would say something about Euro 2008... your regrets01:48:19
– No01:48:21
– No regrets?
– No, why? Thank God! If I had gone there we wouldn't have reached the playoffs01:48:25
And without me they reached the semifinals! (both laugh) Why should I regret?01:48:31
– Let's play blitz. I say a word and you reply with an association in one or two words01:48:38
Football for you is...01:48:40
It's life... everything01:48:44
– Russia national team01:48:46
– I have always had disconnect with the national team01:48:50
Still it stays... but for me it is...01:48:57
Bad memories I have from the national team. Once again we can go back to Capello01:49:02
We can go back to any topic related to the national team01:49:07
And if you start to dig in and investigate you will come across the answer why our team... is like it is01:49:17
– I sincerely didn't understand. I honestly thought that your generation, especially after the Euro 2008 success, would make the team that would achieve something similar in two or four years01:49:29
2010 – ok, you said you failed the playoffs against Slovenia for different reasons
It doesn't matter01:49:35
But then there was Euro 2012, an outstanding first match against Czech Republic
A confident win01:49:41
But what happened next?01:49:44
– Look, what happened with Advocaat...01:49:48
Again we finished first in Euro qualifiers. Prior to the Euros we beat Italy 3:0
– I've been there, I was stunned! – They played with their best squad01:49:58
Then we beat the Czech 4:1, we played Poland...
– It was a draw. – Yes, 1:1. They played at home01:50:06
– And then we played Greece01:50:09
I'll tell you what happened
Now we can say anything and you can say we are looking for excuses01:50:18
They sat deep. 10 men behind the ball. The pitch was... for us, for our game...01:50:22
For example I remember playing against Italy on a fantastic pitch. The ball moved so fast!01:50:27
The pitch there... in Poland? I don't remember where we played01:50:30
– In Warszawa01:50:32
– The pitch was... the legs got bogged down... explain it to an average fan
He will say...01:50:39
– They are looking for excuses! – Looking for excuses, right01:50:42
They sat deep and did the right thing. And we played short passes
That's what Dick always made us do01:50:47
– But we were fine with a draw in that match01:50:50
– Yes. But we couldn't score and conceded an inexplicable ludicrous goal01:50:53
– From a freekick? There was a cross... – From a throw-in! – Yes, exactly!01:50:58
– And right before that game Zyryanov got sick
And back then we always played in a triangle: myself, Shirokov, Zyryanov01:51:06
And he got sick...01:51:09
Unfortunately... again it's an excuse. We could have switched to another system... We can now say whatever we want01:51:16
But I think that team under Advocaat tried to play proper football. And did play it01:51:23
Though, sorry, that match didn't go our way. Excuses – you see01:51:30
But the games against Italy, Czech Republic, first half against Poland...
It was a pleasure to go and to watch01:51:38
– We didn't play defensively, we played on the front foot. We played the right way01:51:42
Didn't get the result, but it doesn't mean he should have been fired or we should have been hated – no! Do you get it?01:51:52
We have earned three Champions League places for Russian teams, our national team has won both Euro and World Cup qualification groups01:52:01
We showed beautiful football with Advocaat – it didn't work out, so what?
Give us another chance, let's carry on01:52:10
Yes, previously the guys went to the Euros and made it to the semifinal...
I guess it's just that Advocaat took me to the next Euros01:52:17
– So that was the matter! – Yes, it was the matter01:52:20
– And I also didn't understand 2016. When Slutskiy arrived it seemed that the team and the atmosphere were building, the right attitude...01:52:26
– Slutskiy, I guess... – And again the final tournament turned out a disaster01:52:30
– He arrived, we won five straight matches in the qualifiers
I got injured right before the last one01:52:36
I had a conversation with Slutskiy
I got injured, had some beers and talked to him quite frankly01:52:48
I think he remembers everything I told him
And my predictions for the final tournament came true01:52:54
– You predicted a disaster before the tournament? – Yes, I told him already then how I saw things. I guess it wasn't the right thing and it surely couldn't help01:53:04
– From outside it looked as if the group came apart01:53:07
– It wasn't good so we got what we got01:53:11
But we should thank Slutskiy for at least getting to the Euros because with the late Capello we weren't anywhere near that
And it would be more of a disgrace to miss the tournament01:53:26
– We've found out what the national team means to you. Now Spalletti01:53:28
– Top, for real. Absolute top. Whatever arguments there were he remains a top
For me he is a top01:53:35
– Semin (Palych)01:53:36
– (laughs) Palych is a machine01:53:39
– A machine? The first association is a machine? – Yeah01:53:42
– "Zenit"?01:53:43
– Dual feelings...01:53:45
It's my home. If I had stayed at "Zenit" and there were no brawls I would now be a 10 times Russian champion, they would build me a statue and I would live in peace01:53:59
if I had shoved my tongue up my ass
But I didn't do it and I wouldn't have done it again01:54:05
If I stayed there... I now realize... if I had won the league another 5 times...
I would be not 10 – 8 times champion. So what?01:54:16
But I would have swallowed that situation that was going on at the club01:54:18
For me, if we weigh those things against each other, it is a no-brainer01:54:23
And I'm very happy that Semin brought me in to "Lokomotiv" and I (a St Petersburg guy) won the league with a captain armband at "Lokomotiv" Moscow01:54:32
If we talk Semak again, I think he will watch this... I told him: "Serezha, take "Lokomotiv" or "Dynamo" Moscow and we'll see what kind of a manager you are"01:54:41
If you win the league with them – no questions from me01:54:45
But to become multiple champion with "Zenit"...
I think everyone who knows a thing or two about Russian football understands that01:54:53
the budgets are absolutely incomparable. "Zenit" will again be the champion next year01:55:00
– No need to watch?01:55:01
– Well, I told you I don't, I'm just sure (both laugh)01:55:05
– Your dream?01:55:08
– Now, at the moment?01:55:09
The ultimate dream is that all that horror ended01:55:13
For me it's...01:55:15
It's hard to live with it and to dream of something when such things happen01:55:21
We are sitting here drinking tea, and there are people dying out there01:55:24
I see it this way01:55:28
For now this is my dream and it has been so for several months alreadyDescription:
Точка — банк, который поддерживает предпринимателей. Открыть счёт: https://tochka.com/rko-landings/brand/?referer1=youtube_nobel OneTwoTrip - более 2 000 000 отелей по России и за рубежом, а также всё для ваших путешествий в одном приложении - https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.onetwotrip.onetwotrip Почти четыре месяца назад российская армия начала военные действия на территории Украины. С тех пор изменилось все. В том числе и в российском футболе. Он оказался в изоляции от международных матчей и сейчас трудно предсказать его будущее. Игорь Денисов – капитан «Зенита», «Динамо», «Локомотива» и сборной России – встретился с Нобелем Арустамяном, чтобы рассказать, как он реагирует на происходящее и как его самого сейчас спасает футбол. At the end of February Russian army started military actions in Ukraine. Since then everything has changed. Including Russian football. It was isolated from the international matches and now it’s hard to predict its future Igor Denisov – «Zenit», «Dynamo», «Lokomotiv» and Russia national team ex-captain – met Nobel Arustamyan to speak out on the current events and to tell us how he finds salvation in football 0:00 Наш гость — Игорь Денисов 0:44 Игорь назначил встречу в Чайной Gazgolder. Почему тут? 1:07 Где ты был 24 февраля. Первая реакция — «ужас и катастрофа» 2:34 Мог уехать из России? А как же дом в Испании? 5:54 Денисов начал тренировать детей, хотя несколько лет даже не трогал мяч 7:37 «Играл бы до 40, если бы не столкнулся с этим дерьмом — российским футболом» 9:17 Не бойтесь открыть свое дело, как это получилось у Рино Гаттузо 11:25 Как говорить с детьми о событиях на Украине и вообще узнавать о них (не в телевизоре) 14:34 О бабушке-блокаднице и главном страхе прямо сейчас 16:11 «Я готов встать на колени перед вами»: Денисов записал обращение к Путину, которое не вышло в свет 18:33 Почему говорит Денисов, а почти все остальные молчат. Денисов на месте наших футболистов завершил бы карьеру в конце февраля 21:36 К Сперцяну из «Краснодара» присматриваются в Испании и Франции. А вы присмотритесь к любым направлениям! 24:05 Денисов и деньги: «красивая тачка, куча телок» → прогоревшие проекты → инвестиции в недвижимость 28:30 Финансовая экспертиза Игоря о «рисованном» курсе доллара и рынке 32:12 «Вы чего, больные?» Об Илье Геркусе как менеджере и его увольнении из «Локо» 33:40 А теперь о его поддержке специальной военной операции 35:09 Отстранение России от турниров — правильно. Почему сейчас виноват каждый из нас и реально ли переубедить других 39:05 О поддержке Навального, его фигуре и страхе высказываться 43:37 «Сумасшедший дом»: о желании Дзюбы «вступить в войну» и полевом командире Черчесове 44:14 Спорт может быть вне политики? 46:04 «Будь мне 22 года, я бы водяры напился». Что сейчас делать нашим молодым и боссам нашего футбола 48:42 Денисов спасается детским футболом. А чем он ужасает? 54:01 Реакция Игоря на выступления Александра Дюкова о нашем футболе. И предложения для Миллера и Федуна 56:27 Есть 7 миллионов рублей? Игорь советует, куда вложить, чтобы улучшить русский футбол 58:30 Денисов хочет, чтобы система детского футбола поменялась. А как именно? 1:01:57 С Дюковым были «офигенные отношения», для Миллера — изгой 1:07:30 Против русских тренеров в сборной России. Вау 1:08:36 «Полный дебилизм». Как Капелло сошел с ума 1:11:37 Почему «Зенит» сейчас = провал, несмотря на чемпионства 1:12:53 Денисов против звезд: тяжеленький Дель Пьеро (Игорь тоже играл с 10-м номером), восторг от Скоулза и Баллак, который вдохновил на качалку 1:15:38 РПЛ не смотрел давно — от нашего футбола давно тянет блевать 1:16:57 Мечтает тренировать детей в академии «Зенита» с Кержаковым, Широковым и другими легендами. Готов и бесплатно 1:20:46 «Зенит» в матче с «Бетисом» играл трусливо. Игорь уверен: так в Петербурге нельзя 1:24:09 Вернул бы в «Локомотив» Лоськова с Пашининым и Алексея Миранчука. И был бы как минимум вторым в Премьер-лиге 1:25:48 Был против того, чтобы дети пошли в футбол. Почему поменял мнение? 1:28:08 «Слышь ты, дебил, куда даешь?» — так Денисов детям сказать не может 1:29:15 Сыновья Денисова (особенно Даня) — копия отца. А Ваня техничнее Игоря! 1:31:38 Фантастика про погружение с акулами 🦈🦈🦈 Просто зачем? 1:33:53 Дочь погружалась с тигровым акулами в 13-14 лет. Ух! 1:35:22 Денисов даже заводил кошек (а до того держал псов). С людьми ладить сложнее? 1:37:53 Почему мало кто из футболистов приходит к такой сознательности, как Игорь 1:43:17 «Капец как жалко Кокорина. Взял и загубил себя сам» 1:46:11 О чем жалеет 1:49:38 Дика Адвоката не надо было убирать из сборной России после вылета на Евро-2012 1:52:20 Игорь спрогнозировал провал Слуцкого на Евро-2016 1:52:27 Играем в ассоциации: Спаллетти, Семин, «Зенит» 1:55:05 О чем мечтает
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