"Under Karpin, we are starting to play the way we played three years ago"

Dynamo Moscow is preparing for a new season in Russian football under the leadership of Valery Karpin, who was appointed head coach two weeks ago. Under the new coach, midfielder Denis Makarov is trying to prove his right to play in the main squad, having almost stopped playing under the previous head coach Marcel Lichke since April 2024. Last week, the 27-year-old played half of a friendly match against the 2DROTS media League team (3-0). And now he is preparing for the games with Serbian OFC and Partizan, which will be held on June 30 and July 4 as part of the pre-season tournament "Fraternal Cup". In an interview with Izvestia, Makarov shared his impressions of starting work under Karpin, commented on his personal attitude and rumors about his departure from Dynamo.

— What are your impressions of starting work under the guidance of Valery Karpin?

— The impressions are wonderful. Basically, the way we wanted to play and played three years ago, we're starting to play now. I'm loving it. And the whole team likes it. Therefore, we are training, working out new moments and preparing for the championship. It's all good.

— You made a reference to what happened three years ago. Do I understand correctly that Dynamo is returning to the game that was practiced under Sandro Schwarz?

"Something like that, yes. Pressing, counterpressing, playing high and fast movements.

— Has Karpin shown himself in communication yet? Have you felt his humor?

— Yes, he speaks in theory in a similar way. It can be funny. (He smiles.) Valery Georgievich explains a lot based on personal experience, so it will remain within the team.

— Have the requirements for you changed a lot under Karpin?

— Everything has become much more intense. You gain more and more experience each time. Take, for example, the 45 minutes I was released for in a friendly match against 2DROTS — it's like an intense workout at full speed. Thanks to this, you feel a surge of strength — you need to continue working on it and practice every day in order to be above the level.

— How do you like the atmosphere at this match with 2DROTS?

—Interesting." Cool. But it's like a regular training session for us — to get playing time. Get 45 minutes of hard training.

— This is not the first time Dynamo has held a friendly match with a media team. Do you perceive this not as a show, but as a serious pre-season sparring?

— If we compare it with the previous game, then yes. Then there was a completely different format. And now we've been told that we have to go out with one hundred percent concentration against 2DROTS. Therefore, there was a full-fledged dedication on the part of each Dynamo player.

— You have practically dropped out of the Dynamo squad in the championship since the spring of 2024. Is there any hope that the situation will change and you will play in the base under Karpin?

— Well, it wasn't me who fell out. It seems to me that the coach is a little confused. But let's leave that out. If you look at the statistics from last season, even in the Russian Cup, where I played quite a lot, I managed to score nine points in eight matches. That's probably why the question is not for me, but for the coach.

— Did Marcel ever explain why he stopped giving you playing time in the championship?

- no. He just put me on the bench without explaining the reasons.

— Did you try to find out these reasons from him?

— No, I didn't try.

— At the beginning of this summer, there was news in the media that you could join Krylia Sovetov, Sochi or Torpedo. Was any of this close to reality? Or maybe it's still real?

— Zero chances. I'm at Dynamo, I have a contract with the club. And I'm 100% staying here until next year. So now the focus is only on Dynamo, on training and playing for the club. I'm going to prove my place on the field with the new coach, play, get more playing time and also help Dynamo become champions.

— What will you consider to be a successful performance in the upcoming season?

— It will be a success if Dynamo wins a trophy, cup or championship.

— Are you waiting for a call from Karpin to the national team if the work at Dynamo goes well?

— Let's see. Here we must first play for Dynamo and benefit the club.

— Last spring, the audience was pleased with Yaroslav Gladyshev, who showed high performance in Dynamo and the national team. What do you associate with the fact that he's so "fucked up"?

— Well, I wouldn't say that it's a mess. He's basically a great player who waited for his chance and took it. Yaroslav is very young, capable of developing and progressing even more.

— Does the March injury of Konstantin Tyukavin, who will not return until autumn, have a strong effect on Dynamo?

— Of course, it's a big loss. And we miss him. But we'll handle it the way it is. And by those who are.