"You can see that CSKA has the backbone of a winner."
In the KHL at midnight from December 27 to 28, the period of exchanges and transitions ends. After that, clubs will not be able to sign newcomers until May 1. One of the most high-profile deals of recent days was the transfer to CSKA Moscow of forward Stanislav Galiev, who had shortly before terminated his contract with Avangard Omsk, where he moved to in the summer.
The forward previously played for Ak Bars Kazan for five years, with a break for the 2021/22 season when he played for Dynamo Moscow. As part of the club from the capital of Tatarstan, Galiev won the Gagarin Cup in 2018. Also on the account of the 32-year-old player is a silver medal at the 2022 Olympic Games in Beijing as part of the Russian national team. For CSKA he has already played two matches.
In an interview with Izvestia, the hockey player talked about his transition to a new team, assessed CSKA's chances of winning the Gagarin Cup, but did not comment on the failures of his former club.
- How unexpected was the trade from Avangard and the fact that you moved to CSKA as a result of it?
- Everything came together so quickly, so I was a little shocked. But I'll be honest: I'm very happy to be in CSKA. Now I'm gradually adapting to the team and will try to help it in the rest of the season. I'm glad that in my debut game for the team I helped it win a crucial game against SKA. Hopefully, we'll only win in the future.
- What can you say about the game of your new team?
- The speed is crazy. Everyone is forward, everything is aimed at the other team's goal. Each of the guys in the team knows what to do and how to achieve it. Everyone plays according to the coaching staff's assignment. The big masters are in this locker room.
- There aren't many people left in this locker room after last season from the squad under which CSKA total dominated the KHL from 2017-2023. But you can still feel the winning spirit within the team?
- Yes, there is. I just met some of the guys in CSKA. But you can see that there is such a strong core in the team. The core of a winner.
- When you left Ak Bars last season in the spring, you didn't find a club right away, only in mid-summer you were signed by Avangard after injuries to their leaders. In the next six months, four head coaches worked in Omsk, the team failed to start the season and only recently climbed into the playoff zone.
- I agree, it's been an emotional season so far. It's tough. But that's hockey life. It often happens that you don't always win.
- Why has Avangard had such a bad season this season?
- No comment.
- You have a contract with CSKA until the end of the season. What goals do you set for yourself for this period?
- I came to CSKA to help them win back the Gagarin Cup. I think we have everything we need to do that. Such a club always sets the highest goals for itself. And I want to win the trophy, too. I'll do everything possible for that.
- Is the current, renewed CSKA capable of that?
- Why not? You can see what kind of shape the team is in now, how many games they've won in a row. It was a good game against SKA. Yes, it wasn't easy, we allowed the opponent to minimize the lead in the third period, but we had a great first period, leading 5-0. With a game like this we can compete for the highest places. The team is good, it is in good shape, it has great hockey players. And the atmosphere in the locker room is great - I've only been here for a little while, but I like it, and the team has received me well. In general, CSKA has everything it needs to win the Gagarin Cup.
