"Capello asked: "Will you go to Bayern? I've made a deal."
Coaches and playing style changed at CSKA, but one thing remained unchanged — Igor Akinfeev's loyalty to the club: 23 seasons, 800+ matches. A legend that has become a symbol of an entire epoch. In a candid interview with Izvestia and Sport-Express, he talked not only about football, but also about character, doubts and the ability to laugh at oneself.
When Nikolic left, I didn't believe it.
— Igor, this is your 23rd season in your career, and you recently played your 800th game for CSKA. Did you strive for such figures and assume that you would achieve them?
— I didn't strive for it, and I didn't allow it, because I never thought ahead. Especially for a decade. But now I look back and the fly in the ointment arises: if it hadn't been for the two injuries, there would have been a lot more matches. Under 900. I definitely didn't play 55 games because of injuries.
Javier Zanetti has 958 games for Inter. We can catch up!
— I've seen the list — there are such legends... For me, these numbers are still far away, so I'm not guessing. After all, I'm not 30 years old anymore - it can all end at one point.
— At the same time, you play in every match — even in Orenburg on synthetic, which is contraindicated after serious injuries.
— After all, it was the first round - I was systematically preparing for the training camp. Without unnecessary stress, it was like at the height of the season, when there were matches in Voronezh and Orenburg. Yes, it's dangerous for me on an artificial pitch. Especially in cold weather: at -3 or -4 the lawn becomes different. The weather was good here, and everything was comfortable. It's clear that it's unusual — I haven't used synthetics for a long time. But everything went fine.
"How's your knee?" Eduard Bezuglov told me five years ago that it constantly gets inflamed between matches, and the main task is to recover in time for the next game.
— Everything is fine now. It's one thing when the Cup and the championship, European cups and the national team are on the calendar. My knee was swollen and fluid was accumulating. The other thing is like now: I clearly understand that I have one match in the RPL this week, and the Cup is in a hurry. So no problem. Besides, if you don't take Orenburg, our fields are quite good.
— Were the opening matches of this season enough to understand what CSKA is capable of?
— Not enough yet (the interview took place on August 7. — Ed.). For a very simple reason, the composition is changing. When 20 people have been playing for years, whom you see and train every day, you have an understanding of what to expect. Seven people have left here, and new guys are coming. I think the realization of what to expect from CSKA will appear after the September break for the national team matches. When the transfer window closes, we will play and finally understand what everyone is capable of. It takes time before making conclusions, at least until the end of August.
— How do you like Fabio Celestini?
— A European coach with the appropriate requirements: short plays in defense, through the goalkeeper. At the same time, it is permissible to knock away — if you are covered and there is nowhere to go.
In the first matches, I think you noticed that we started playing more from the bottom. The match with Zenit showed that if we don't dominate, we can act on our own. That's why we took control of the ball, just like with Krasnodar, when we endured 30 minutes in the first half and gave a completely different half in the second. And with Orenburg, despite the draw, we created enough chances — we had to win.
In general, the emphasis is on playing from the bottom up. There is a theory almost every day. All the requirements are clear. The European approach is the same as Marko Nikolic's, but with a footnote to a different coaching style.
— CSKA became the best team of the spring in Russia, won the Cup and aimed for the championship. Could I have imagined that so many changes would happen after that?
— Chuika definitely wasn't there. What happened happened. These are normal things in football. Marko [Nikolic] had a really strong, good team. We could have performed better if we hadn't lost our points in the fall. But the spring segment gave a feeling that all this could develop into something global - already in the new season.…
— Nikolic left at that moment. What was the first reaction?
"I didn't believe it at first. When the news came out, I called [Communications Director] Kirill Breido: "Is that true?" He replied: "It looks like it is." And then Marko himself contacted me and 5-6 players and said that he had made such a decision.
It was understandable, it was sad, it was a shame: the team, one might say, "blinded" — there was a feeling that we would fight for high places. On the other hand, if I were 20-25 years old, I would probably be wondering: "Why is that? But now... the man has made a decision. It's not the right time to persuade or persuade.
Marko is very grateful. The team has become more confident and mature, and Kislyak and all our young people have started playing.
— Did Marko give a real reason for leaving?
— I didn't even want to dig into it. The decision has been made.
— The motives are interesting.
— They can be different, but when we have personal situations or even problems in our lives, probably no one wants everyone around to pull, ask questions, and answer everyone. That's it, Marco is already at AEK, and Fabio Celestini is at CSKA. You are welcome. Let's move on.
To get 0-3 from Bayern is like playing 0-0.
— Chalov went to PAOK to play in the Europa League, Nikolic to AEK, including because of the Conference League. Do you understand such a desire to compete in European competitions? And did you experience a shortage of these matches?
— I definitely haven't experienced a shortage. I feel sorry for the guys who can't try their hand at these tournaments because of their suspension. But I can say for myself that I've played enough there. Especially in the Champions League! I've played 140 games in European competitions.… I was lucky in that sense.
That's why I understand Fedya and Marko. There are no European cups, but there is a desire to show and prove yourself there. If they wanted to, they left. You are welcome.
— Is there no nostalgia for the Champions League?
— There is no nostalgia for tournaments, but there is for the team. Three championships with Slutsky, they played good matches in the Champions League — with the same Manchester City. Or against Bayern Munich: to get only 0:3 at the Allianz Arena is like playing 0-0. I was the happiest when we left! And in Khimki, they actually scored only one, and that was from the penalty spot. Consider it a victory. (Laughs.)
Seriously, you're opening up that CSKA squad now and you realize that it's probably not great, but the team is very strong. And friendly: we spent weekends together, went to the sauna, went to kebabs.
— You said about 0-3 against Bayern, and I remembered Sergey Ryzhikov's quote.: "During the anthem at Camp Nou, I thought, 'The main thing is not to miss seven! Five is fine."
— I had similar feelings during the match against Manchester City. We lose 2:4, the last seconds are coming — and then Anatolyevich [Nababkin] takes the ball and runs to the flank to beat Silva! Selection, submission to Negredo — 2:5. The ball is in the center, we play — and immediately the whistle blows.
In the locker room, I turned all the dogs on him: "Well, what the fuck? 2:4 is fine, why the fifth one?" All the media immediately published articles: "Akinfeev conceded five goals in the Champions League for the first time in his career." I tell Nababkin, "They didn't write anything about you, just about me!"
They laughed, of course. Then I cooled off: "Basically, if you missed five for the first time in 14 years of your career, that's cool too. Especially from the "City" — to hell with them!"
By the way, Kirill Anatolyevich did not arrange such races the following year, and we beat the same City 2-1.
— After so many years at Golden CSKA, are you interested in the current RPL?
— I must say right away: I don't like it when someone says, "Football is the bottom." If there is a bottom, don't look. But why don't we love our own? Whatever the RPL, the FNL is ours. You can always make a good product. Besides, I won't say that the RPL is just that weak. There are teams that play high-quality football and compete. It is clear that this is no longer the 2010s, when Rubin, Spartak, Dynamo began to add ... For seven years the championship has been very strong. Maybe he was in the top four or five in Europe. But now, even if something is wrong, I won't say that everything is bad with us. I will still appreciate, respect and love my own, not the foreign.
— Are you watching zabugornoe?
"I'm not looking." It doesn't even pull. First of all, when there is so much football in life, it simply gets boring. Secondly, there is not much free time. If I get a minute, I turn on the reviews. That's how it was with the club World Cup — I turned it on, figured out what was what, and that's it. At the same time, I always look for reviews of the RPL tour, I see all the goals. The young people at CSKA are constantly watching [full matches]. I'm not.
— Magomed Ozdoev recently said: "If we return to the Champions League now, we will be uncompetitive." Agree?
— Of course, it will be hard. Especially if Barcelona and Bayern come across — after 3-4 years of not having such experience, it will not be easy. Although, when we return, the teams will start to be staffed differently — this is also important. Transfers for European cups will be different.
But I agree with the message: it will be difficult for both the clubs and the national team. Yes, we played with good opponents from the same Africa. They won. But one match is not comparable to what happened, for example, before the 2018 World Cup. When Brazil, Argentina, and France come out against you… You're thinking differently, and you're preparing. You know, there won't be an easy walk—if you slack off, they'll just bend you over.
It is important to play with top opponents. Therefore, I think it will be difficult for us even in the Conference League for the first time after returning.
— Recently, there has been a lot of discussion about tightening the limit. What should it be like?
— I don't have a specific formula. But young players have to progress alongside top foreign players. We don't have ten Kislyaks, or even five Glebovs.… It's not just like that at CSKA, it's like that at any club. There are one, two, three — in principle, this is normal. But they have to develop surrounded by strong players.
When Golovin arrived at CSKA, Doumbia, Yeremenko and all the others were there. It's the same with Chalov. He became the top scorer in that particular team. When the level of teammates is lower, it's more difficult.
For me, there should be about equal numbers of strong Russians and top foreigners. It is clear that this does not happen. But in fact, 5-6 high-quality foreign players are needed.
Looking at modern goalkeepers, I felt like an old "Terminator"
— To put it mildly, you are not a fan of modern trends in goalkeeping: Instead of short draws, it's better to knock it out and not take any chances. But Celestini demands the first option. How did you solve this issue?
— Through discussion. And the training sessions, which are based on Fabio's requirements: we play from the goal, through the defenders. We work out every moment. At the same time, he agrees: "When you're covered and there's nowhere to pass, you can get knocked out. It's not a big deal. But if there's an opportunity to act it out, we'll use it." I replied, "Okay, not a question at all."
The matches against Zenit and Krasnodar showed that if everything is set up correctly and they act reliably, you can play.
— So you've adapted to modern requirements after all.
— It's not a problem to adjust. But reliability has always been important to me. Looking at modern goalkeepers, I felt like an old "Terminator": a new model has already been released, but I'm still walking around and reloading my weapon in the old-fashioned way. Everyone is "stringing" balls to the defenders, running, passing passes, and I'm "reloading." Yes, I'm not in that formation, but if it's necessary for the team, I'll rebuild.
— Recently, Krasnodar goalkeeper coach Savchenko publicly dismantled your game. Have you read his interview?
— I haven't read it, but I've seen a passage about myself.
— His arguments, why are you not among the top 3 goalkeepers in Russia: "Igor plays on his instincts. Caught, recaptured — it's simple. The game of Safonov, Agkatsev, Latyshonka, Adamov is much more difficult. That's why they're stronger. In what? Blocking strikes when approaching a batter. High line defense insurance. Kicking, including under pressure. If Akinfeev carries his right far, then he hardly gives his left. And when was the last time he went out of the gate to back up a defender? I don't remember that at all. Safonov throws the ball superbly with his hand. Akinfeev, for example, can't do that."
— I completely agree with him. I can't do anything at all! I don't have 23 trophies, a 25-year career. There is nothing. He's absolutely right. One hundred percent.
Capello said, "Fabio, I'm not going to sit under Neuer."
— Evgeny Giner said that you haven't had a single offer from Europe all the time. And from Russia?
— I have not heard about any proposals or any papers. There was no such thing at all. The only thing is, before the World Cup in Brazil, Capello approached me: "I made an agreement with Bayern. Will you go? Will you be second after Neuer?" He replied, "No, Fabio. I'm not going to sit under the Neuer." He was surprised: "It's Bayern Munich!"
What's the difference? I don't want to go there so I don't have to play.
— So you haven't even considered this option?
— No, of course not. You need to understand where you're going. It was about sitting on a bench. What's the point?
— You could have said to yourself: I will win the competition. Like Safonov before the transfer to PSG.
— To win the competition from Neuer, you need to be four heads stronger. At least Moti Donnarumma is Italian, he plays in a French club. There is a chance. Neuer is German. He plays in the main German club. They'll never put you there in your life — you're a legionnaire for them.
— If you were Safonov, wouldn't you leave too?
— Motya is young. And I chose this path. Whether he plays or not, he's already a Champions League winner. And at a particular stage of his career, he made the right move. If I were 25, maybe I'd think differently now. But when you're almost 40, where will you go?
Besides, it's a completely different time now. And then our football was at its peak: Zenit and CSKA won the UEFA Cup, and the national team won the Euro. We fought on equal terms with Germany and Spain. Why leave? If you compete with the European grandees here.
And when Northern Ireland came, we knew that we would definitely beat them. As part of Pavlyuchenko, Arshavin, Zyryanov, Semak — we were still brats on the sidelines. A fusion of youth and experience. But what chemistry the team has, what players... a golden time!
I'm glad I caught him. There was no point in breaking down—for what?
Переведено сервисом «Яндекс Переводчик»
