"Our clubs will be top of the Eurocups when they return"

On December 28, Dynamo Moscow volleyball players won the final match of the Russian Cup at home, defeating Zenit-Kazan 3-0. These teams are also leading in the Russian championship, which has already played 17 rounds out of 30. The Kazan club is first, while Dynamo are second.

In an interview with Izvestia, Konstantin Bryansky, the head coach of the Bilo-Syni and the Russian national team, shared his emotions about the trophy won, assessed the level of the national championship after the suspension of clubs from European cups, and also stated his desire to play with the national team at a major international competition and expressed hope that it would be returned there soon.

- What made it possible to win the Cup final so easily by the scoreline?

- Easy on the scoreline is not easy on the inside. You know, I'm sure, and the guys will probably confirm that we tried in every episode and in every play, without thinking about the result. Actually, I think it gave the result.

- Playing such trophies in the middle of the season, not at the end of it - is it a plus or a minus? Will there be more emotions or, on the contrary, will it be pleasant to stretch such winning impressions?

- Such stretches in the season should be 100%, because the championship itself is a long and exhausting competition designed for several months. And of course, when the Cup is going on in parallel, it's a big load on the team, on the players and on the coaches, but nevertheless it keeps your desire to constantly strive for that kind of feeling burning inside every player.

- Soon it will be three years since the national team does not participate in international competitions and clubs are suspended from European cups. During this time, has our national championship managed to maintain its level?

- I think we have a championship of the highest class, and here we have players of the highest level. And I wouldn't say that we have lost anything.

- Many strong foreign players continue to play in the Russian Volleyball Super League. How do you manage to sign them after 2022?

- The answer here is the same as to your previous question: we have a championship of the highest level and playing here is a great honor for the players.

- A question as the head coach of the national team: in December swimmers, synchronized swimmers, figure skaters and speed skaters were allowed to compete in international competitions in a neutral status. Is there any hope that in the new year 2025, our teams in playing sports, including volleyball, will be in line for unbanning?

- There is always hope. We wait, we hope - we are ready.

- You led the Russian national team in 2022, when it had already been banned. Is there a goal to work with it until the moment of admission to the international arena and the first participation in a tournament of the World or European Championship level?

- I think that, of course, the goal of every coach who wants to be in the national team is to win something. And for that we need competitions.

- When the clubs are unban, will they be able to fight for victories in European cups right away?

- I would say that we have players of a very high level in the championship. And I don't have the slightest doubt that Russian clubs will definitely occupy the top positions in European cups. Because the level that European teams are showing now - I'm following it closely - doesn't always correspond to the prestige of the competitions.

- In your opinion, have our domestic competitions kept the interest of the public after the ban?

- First of all, the popularization of volleyball is very important here, which takes place because volleyball is on the first button of television in the country. This is very important, because it speaks about the mass and interest of the viewers in this sport, which can't but please. And it raises the level of competition.