"Even in unsuccessful games, we work to the end and win"

Krasnodar has reshuffled its goaltending line after its triumph last season. The main goalkeeper Stanislav Agkatsev remained in his position, and the Bulls did not renew the contract with his understudy Yuri Dupin, having found a replacement in his place in the person of Alexander Koryakin, who played in the first league for the Moscow Rodina.

While Agkatsev remains number one and performs in the national championship, Koryakin replaces him in the games of the Cup of Russia. With the 23-year-old goalkeeper, Krasnodar lost at home to the Samara Wings of the Soviets (1:2), and this week they defeated Dynamo Moscow (4:0). In an interview with Izvestia, Koryakin told whether it was a surprise for him to join the ranks of the current champion, explained why this team is fighting for the highest places, and also shared his training experience with Agkatsev and the current Zenit goalkeeper Evgeny Latyshonk.

— Was it surprising for you to receive an offer from Krasnodar in the offseason, which had previously trained many goalkeepers inside its system, but invited you from the outside?

— Yes, it was a big surprise. In fact, after a season and a half at Rodina, I did not expect that such a grandee, who had just won the RPL championship, would enter into negotiations regarding my transfer from the first league. But it was a very pleasant surprise.

— Do you have any understanding why they invited you?

— No, I wasn't interested. My task is to meet the requirements set by Krasnodar. To meet the expectations that the club has placed on me.

— What are Krasnodar's requirements for you? How do they differ from the same "Homeland"?

— It's hard to say. But in any case, wherever you are, you have to give your maximum. Because every club has its own challenges in one way or another, and you need to solve them here and now.

— In almost two months, did you understand inside Krasnodar how this team became the champion last season?

— At the expense of the team. It helps to win even those matches that are not going well. This is also noticeable in the current season. After a bad start in matches that don't go according to our script, we don't give up, we work to the end and achieve victories. This was shown by our last two league matches — at home against Dynamo (1-0) and away against Orenburg (1-0), where Krasnodar scored the winning goals in the 87th and 75th minutes. This is the only way titles are won due to such key episodes. And such goals come at the expense of the character and cohesion of the team.

— You have not played in the championship matches at the RPL level yet, but you have already made your debut in the "RPL Way" of the Russian Cup. How is the Premier League more difficult than the first league?

— Speeds are higher overall. And, in particular, the speed of decision-making. The level of performers is higher. But at the same time, I can't say that there is a gap compared to the first league.

— In the 2022/2023 season, you were at Baltika, where you crossed paths with Evgeny Latyshonk, a graduate of the Krasnodar system. Did you learn anything from him and Stanislav Agkatsev that helps you adapt to the requirements in your current team?

— I'm still learning. That I studied with Zhenya when we were at Baltika, and that I am now with Stas when I train with him. In any case, being around people who have already reached a high level is a great success, a chance to make progress on yourself. You get better with them.

— Were you surprised how a Latvian boy joined Zenit last summer and immediately became the main goalkeeper?

- no. He deserved it. This did not come as a surprise to me.

— You have been at the Lokomotiv Academy since you were eight years old, and at the age of 19 you played in the second league for his farm club Kazanka. Were there at least minimal chances to get into the main squad?

— If it didn't work out, it means that there was no such opportunity at that time.