"If the limit is tightened, then I will be only glad"

Vadim Rakov is the main opening of the new RPL season. The Lokomotiv graduate joined Krylia Sovetov on a one-year loan this summer, where he scored five goals and provided two assists in eight matches.

In an interview with Izvestia and Sport-Express, the 20-year-old midfielder spoke about his call-up to the youth national team, the start of the season at Krylia and his future at Lokomotiv.

"Maybe you need to score two or three goals every match to get into the national team."

— What are the emotions of being called up to the Russian youth national team?

— The emotions of the challenge are positive. There are a lot of guys here whom we rarely see. The Russian youth national team is a chance to play friendly matches against tough opponents and see your friends.

— You had a great start to the season, you could have counted on a call-up to the main national team. Do you understand why you didn't get there in the end?

— When I got on the extended list of the main Russian national team, I was delighted. I had thoughts that I would be able to get into the final, I did everything possible for this. But the head coach knows better. Anyway, I will continue to play the same way and wait for a call-up to the first national team.

— Did Karpin explain to you what you need to improve in order to get on the final list of the main national team?

— I haven't talked to anyone from the coaching staff of the Russian national team.

— Do you understand what needs to be added?

— Maybe I need to score two or three goals every match (laughs).

— Let's go back to your bright start to the season at Krylia Sovetov. What is the main reason for this beginning?

— I began to get more freedom and time, which helped me to relax. At Krylia, the head coach, the coaching staff and all the players believe in me. I play calmly, without any shoving from my partners, they only encourage me. Thanks to this, it turns out to score and give assists in almost every meeting.

— You had two career options before this season — Krylia and Paris NN. Why did you choose Samara?

— When I found out about the interest of the two clubs, I immediately started communicating with my mother and grandmother about this. We began to analyze all the pros and cons of cities and teams. At first, the choice fell on Paris NN, but then the agent called and said about the lease to Krylia Sovetov. I was happy about this, and when I arrived in Samara, I was doubly happy about this choice.

— Were there any concerns during the transfer to Krylia due to major changes - a new coach, new players, new management during the off—season?

— There were no concerns. I immediately realized that we were going to have a cool, playing and technical team. There was an understanding that we would start the season in the RPL successfully.

— How do you assess the team's results at the start of the season?

— We had an amazing start, but then there was a slight decline. We talked inside the team, the coaching staff told us something, and we played well in the last two matches before the national team break - against Dynamo and Lokomotiv. If we continue like this, we can achieve a serious result.

— So the top-8 of the Russian Premier League, given the competition, is this a real task for Krylia?

— Yes, this task is quite real for us. If we continue to perform well, we can safely finish the championship in the top 8. The main thing is not to reduce our demands.

— And what caused the decline — the defeat from Akhmat and the defeat from Krasnodar?

— We had a bad first half, we conceded a lot of goals at the beginning. We need to work on that. And in the second half of the matches we play much better, we are able to turn the game around, like against Lokomotiv, where we could have taken three points altogether. Why is this happening? Perhaps because of the minimal under-tuning. During the break, we talk seriously with our partners and the head coach, turn on and come out completely different on the field.

— When the season just started, there were rumors on the Internet that you were into betting. How did you react?

— I read this news, but did not pay attention to it. I immediately put her out of my mind. I continue to train and play football.

— But this is a very serious accusation against a football player.

— At that time, I was well-known, leading the goalscoring race in the RPL. Some ill-wishers decided to drop the news. But I think that athletes should be ready for this, so I didn't pay attention to it.

"If I had played as much as the farmhands, something might have worked out."

— Lokomotiv positions itself as a club that trusts its students. Did they explain to you why they rented it?

— They didn't explain anything to me. They just rented it out, so that's what they wanted. I pull out everything I know how to do on the football field, I show my maximum. I really want to spend the season at a high level. And then we will decide.

— So there was no conversation with Mikhail Galaktionov?

— There was a conversation that I would get more playing time on loan and nothing more.

— Is there any residue left that you were leased, and, for example, Saltykov is given chances at Lokomotiv?

— There is no precipitation. I like playing in Wings of the Soviets. I want to help the club achieve maximum results.

— How important was the match against Lokomotiv in the championship for you?

— This match was very important for me. There was a desire to give my best. It seems that I managed to do it — 1+1 in the "goal +pass" system. And the team was able to pull out a draw in a difficult game when they lost 0:2.

The burden of the former: who will top the RPL table after the 7th round

CSKA and Krasnodar will come together, and Lokomotiv will try to return to the winning path.

— You didn't celebrate the goal, but you still made a gesture that you were calling someone. Who was the recipient?

— This will remain a secret, personal. But that's how I celebrated goals at Lokomotiv, so people can think whatever they want. This was not a one-time action in this match.

— In youth football, you had a great connection with Alexei Batrakov. Why didn't you manage to transfer it immediately to adult football?

— If I had played as much as Lech Batrakov, and we would have been next to each other on the field, then something might have worked out. When I went on the field, I either changed Lyosha, or I got 10-15 minutes. And that's not enough to distinguish yourself. I managed to score a joint goal once in an away match against Akhmat, when Lech gave me an assist.

— Why do you think Lyosha managed to gain a foothold at Lokomotiv right away, but you haven't yet?

— I think this is due to the competition on the flanks of Lokomotiv's attack. Plus, before this season, the club signed more experienced players — Bakayev and Rudenko. They performed well enough at the start, but there are still 23 rounds ahead.

— I've probably seen rumors that Manchester City and clubs from Saudi Arabia are already interested in Batrakov. Maybe you discussed it with him somehow?

— Just at the end of the match between Lokomotiv and Krylia Sovetov, during a pause to watch video replays by the referees, I approached Lyosha and asked about the interest from Saudi Arabia. He confirmed this information.

As it is, it is very nice that Lesha is being watched by clubs all over the world. We've been friends with him since childhood, we went all the way to Lokomotiv. I am very happy for him. Maybe if I play at a high level, I'll also get on the radar of European teams.

— When we were suspended, there were fears that no one from foreign scouts would follow our championship.

— The right person will always find a way to follow our championship. He will see a specific player and contact his agent. Nothing is impossible.

— You are an active fan of Lokomotiv. And he told me how he went to a fan party in Cherkizovo as a child.

— As soon as I moved to Moscow and was officially enrolled in Lokomotiv, I loved going to the stadium with my mother and grandmother. I liked going to the fan stand, I was amused by the chants. We lived by it. I often went to the fan stand with my grandmother.

I remember how we once went to the Spartak –Lokomotiv match in 2017, to the fan stand. We enjoyed the football and the full guest sector a lot. As a child, I fell in love with Lokomotiv, and I still have it. I like fan movements.

— Regarding your future. How do you see your career going forward — Europe or the status of a legend of Lokomotiv?

— At the moment, I'm a Krylia Sovetov player. But after the lease, I want to return to Lokomotiv. I'm happy in Russia for now, and if there's an opportunity, why not try yourself in Europe.

"My favorite book is War and Peace

— Besides football, do you like playing tennis?

— Yes, I like this sport. I play in my free time with Ivan Lepsky. I watch big international tournaments. I don't really follow the Russians, I support Carlos Alcaraz and try to watch all his games.

I'm an emotional person. And I like the emotions I get from tennis. I mostly win in this sport.

— Recently, Sports Minister Mikhail Degtyarev proposed approving a list of recommended books for Russian football players. Do you like reading books?

— I read books on holidays. I can read anything that interests me. If the Minister of Sports approves the list of books, we will read them.

— What is your favorite book?

— "War and Peace". I read it as a child, there were no difficulties.

— How do you feel about the tightening of the limit? He's a soft guy now, but a lot of talented young people have opened up during this time.

— If the limit is tightened, then I will be only glad. We will have even more Russian talents in the championship. They are still there, but there will be even more. The young guys will show themselves, including us.