"If we play like we've been playing lately, then we'll be fine."

Samara Krylia Sovetov are in 11th place five rounds before the finish of the Russian championship, four points away from the transition zone and 10 from the relegation zone. Although after a number of scandals related to harsh statements by the governor of the region Vyacheslav Fedorishchev about corruption in the judiciary, the salary of the head coach of the team Igor Osinkin and the influence of a certain group of agents on the club, it seemed that the Volga Region residents were one of the main candidates for losing their place in the RPL.

Nevertheless, they are close to confidently avoiding relegation. Krylia has never lost in the last four rounds of the championship. During this time, they managed to defeat Lokomotiv Moscow at home (5:1), and last week they drew away with CSKA Moscow (1:1), interrupting the five-match winning streak of the Army. In an interview with Izvestia, the midfielder of the Samara team, Sergey Babkin, explained the recent successes, told how Krylia should avoid relegation, and also expressed confidence that he would still receive a call-up to the Russian national team.

— How did your team manage to take away points from CSKA?

— It's really a tough game. She was heavy until the very last second. We fought well, moved around, and covered the CSKA players. We had a very good first half, and we kept the ball well and tried to play our game in general. We played the second one, maybe worse, but we just started from the result more and tried to play more reliably from behind. Overall, I think we played a high-quality game.

— Why haven't Krylia lost five matches in a row?

— I can't say one exact reason. I think it all worked together. We started with training sessions, at each of which we gave ourselves completely. Well, in general, hence the result — both we train and we play.

— The beginning of Krylia's win-win streak began after Vyacheslav Fedorishchev, the governor of the Samara Region, met with the team at the end of March, which was ambiguously perceived by part of the football community. Is there a connection between these events?

— In my opinion, it's all because we ourselves understood that we need to get together. We ourselves brought it to such a situation when we were very close to the transition zone. And it was necessary to improve. We tried to do it, and we succeeded. Plus, we got lucky in some moments of the last matches. But still, I think we deserved the result we achieved in the last rounds.

— Was the team under pressure from the constant scandals surrounding the club, which began at the end of November with the first speeches of the governor, when he said that one Krylia employee asked for 36 million rubles to work with people who influence the judiciary?

— I don't know about the other guys in the team, I'll only speak for myself — it doesn't put any pressure on me. I just go out on the field and do my job. Moreover, the club has all the conditions for this — no salary delays, everything is fine. I don't have any problems to focus only on football.

"I want to keep most of the team and the head coach"

Ruslan Pimenov, Deputy General Director of Krylia Sovetov, talks about the extension of contracts with players, the spring results and the meeting with the governor

— Given the changes in the club's management and the possible large-scale change in the squad, are you thinking about where you will play next season?

— No, I'm not thinking about it. I play for Krylia Sovetov and I do what I have to do — I help the team finish the season as well as possible. And then we'll watch. Moreover, I still have a year of contract with the club. So there is no panic.

— In the fall, Governor Fedorishchev set the team the task of finishing the championship in a place not lower than eighth. With nine points behind him, do you still believe in the possibility of reaching this level?

— There is a goal to go from game to game, take your own in each match and score as many points as possible.

— Do you feel threatened from below? Or are you already sure that you will safely stay in the RPL without transitional matches?

— There is always a threat. But if we play the way we've been playing lately and give ourselves to the game the way we're giving ourselves now, then I think we'll be fine.

— In October, you were called up to the Russian national team, but did not play for it due to the fact that it was not possible to organize friendly matches during this period. Are you waiting for a second chance to make your debut for the national team?

— If they call, then, of course, I will be happy.

— Was it particularly disappointing that the call came precisely on those dates of the national teams' matches, for which the RFU could not agree with potential rivals on sparring?

— To be honest, it's not a big shame, because I know that if I progress and show my best game, then a new call-up to the national team will be just around the corner.