"It's always nice when the stands are pushing forward"

Russian national team players played a friendly match against Nigeria at home on June 6, and will play away against Belarus on June 10. After that, they, along with other players of the RPL clubs, will go on vacation, and in the second half of June they will begin preparations for the new season. The Russians drew 1-1 with Nigeria, failing to win a friendly match for the first time since October 2023 and conceding an own goal for the first time since the same period.

From the first minutes of this meeting, Rostov defender Ilya Vakhania entered the field. He was replaced in the 68th minute. In a week, he played his second game in Moscow at the Luzhniki Stadium — five days before the Rostov national team match, he met with CSKA in the Russian Cup Superfinal. After a 0-0 draw in regular time, his team lost the match on penalties (3:4). In an interview with Izvestia, the 24-year-old football player shared his emotions from the match with Nigeria, his opinion about the atmosphere in the stands and possible changes in the life of Rostov.

— Can we say that you played against the most difficult opponent you've ever faced in the national team?

— Yes, that's right. It was my third match for the national team. And I have never had such rivals before. This is a different level of team.

— Is it a shame that a seven-match winning streak was interrupted without conceding goals?

— Yes, the dry series should have ended sometime. The only shame is that we didn't win the match against Nigeria.

— What prevented it?

— Just a good level of the opponent. It was very difficult to play against the Nigerians. But in principle, we did it. We created a lot of chances to score, but the realization let us down. Overall, they performed well defensively and well offensively.

— What do you think about goalkeeper Matvey Safonov's mistake, after which Nigeria equalized the score?

— I would not like to say anything about it or emphasize it in any way. This can happen to anyone. So don't get hung up on it. We all supported Matvey after the game and didn't really talk about it. Everyone knows that he is a high-level goalkeeper, and this goal will not affect him in any way.

— What's it like to play at a well-filled Luzhniki Stadium for the second time in a week? After all, more than 57,000 spectators came to the Russian Cup Superfinal between CSKA and Rostov, and more than 45,000 to the Russia—Nigeria match.

— The atmosphere is amazing. We were being driven forward. And the difference from what happened at the Cup Superfinal is that this time almost the entire stadium was rooting for us. It was very pleasant. After all, at the Cup Superfinal, most of the Luzhniki supporters supported CSKA. Probably because the club is from Moscow, and we played in Moscow. Now I was playing there for a team that is supported by most of the stands. And it feels different.

— Was it more difficult to play in the Cup Superfinal?

— In principle, there was support even then, because many people came from Rostov-on-Don. A lot of fans were for us. In principle, it's always nice when the stands drive you forward. It's just that there are more people on the national team who supported the team I play for, hence the atmosphere felt a little different.

— Have you missed Valery Karpin in the three months that he has not been working at Rostov?

— Yes, of course. But I'm glad that we crossed paths with him again in the national team. It is always a pleasure to see Valery Georgievich again and work under his guidance.

— Has he changed in any way during the months that he has been working as the head coach of the national team?

— No, I haven't changed. Except maybe he looks a little more rested.

— For the first time in a year, you played for the national team with Matvey Safonov, who left for PSG last summer. Is it striking that he has improved after his first season in France?

— He hasn't changed as a person. And as a football player, you can't argue with that. Look at what a save the top Matthew made in the first half, when he saved the team when the Nigerian player went one-on-one. No, he probably could have played like that a year ago. But I still have a feeling that I've become even more confident over the past year.

It's hard to say exactly what Safonov added, since we only trained for a few days and played only one match together. And I've only played one training camp and match with him before, last summer against Belarus. Therefore, it is difficult to compare that Safonov and the current one in any particular way.

— What do you expect from the upcoming trip of the Russian national team to Belarus?

— I want to win this match.

"What's the score?"

— As it turns out (smiles).

— Many people believe that the last Russian Cup Superfinal against CSKA was the last for Rostov in its current form, and that the management, coaching staff and most of the players will leave the club soon. Can you say something about this?

— No, I can't.

— Do you even know under whose leadership and in which team you will be preparing for next season after your vacation?

- no.

— Are you sure you're going to play for Rostov next season?

— Let's see how it goes (smiles). But now I'm a football player for Rostov. And I can't even comment on anything.

— Has there been information in the media about your transfer to Dynamo several times?

— I do not know who is saying or writing what. There may be some negotiations going on, but I can't say anything.

— They say that Dynamo will soon appoint Valery Karpin as head coach. Would you like to join him there?

— On the whole, I would love to work with Valery Georgievich again. It doesn't matter if it's in Dynamo or another team. It doesn't matter when.

— Is there a desire to join a more ambitious club than Rostov?

— Everything suits me at Rostov, so it's hard to say anything now. Just leaving for the sake of transition is definitely not about me. If you leave in order to progress somewhere, to improve as a football player, you can think about it. But there is definitely no goal in itself to leave Rostov somewhere - the club has given me a lot as a player. And I like everything about him.