"I don't like Ter Stegen — he plays for Barca"

In the last 12th round of the Russian Football Championship, 19-year-old goalkeeper Kurban Rasulov made his RPL debut with Dynamo Moscow. Previously, he played four matches for the main blue and white team in the group stage of the Russian Cup, where the second teams usually play. Thus, he won the competition from the second goalkeeper of the team Igor Leschuk and the third goalkeeper Andrey Kudravets. And in the last match of the national championship against Akhmat Grozny (2-2), Rasulov entered the field due to an injury to the main goalkeeper Andrei Lunev.

In an interview with Izvestia, Kurban Rasulov shared his emotions from his debut, commented on the episode with the controversial penalty against Dynamo, which was not scored by Akhmat player Lechi Sadulaev, and also explained why he does not like Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre Ter Stegen.

— Do the games in the Russian championship at the RPL level and the games in the Russian Cup evoke different emotions?

— For me, both have happened for the first time this season. Therefore, the emotions in each game are the same. When there is an opportunity to play for Dynamo, I am happy about it. It doesn't matter if it's a Cup or a championship, I want to play there and there whenever possible. But the emotions are only positive. I don't see any difference — I prepare for every game the same way.

— When did you find out that you will take the field in the match against Akhmat?

— On Tuesday and Wednesday last week, when I returned from the youth national team, I was clearly told that I would play and that I had to prepare for Akhmat. So it wasn't a surprise for me to make my RPL debut.

— What would you say about the penalty in your goal in the match against Akhmat?

"I mean, was he there or not?"

- yes.

"I didn't think so." We had the same moment in the game against Lokomotiv, when they put a penalty in our goal. And then the commission recognized that it should not have been installed. And with Akhmat, there was the same moment, even more obvious... I don't want to comment — I think everyone understands everything. And now the judging panel will say again that it's not a penalty. But it's not going to be good for us. I want better refereeing.

— Can we talk about karma, that in the end, Akhmat did not realize this penalty?

— I think so (smiles). I think that's how it works when there's no penalty, but it's taken, and the player doesn't score in the end. There is definitely a share of karma in this.

— Did you try to influence Lechi Sadulaev, who scored the penalty, or is it not your merit that he shot above the goal?

— Well, why not? I wouldn't have been in the goal, maybe he would have scored then (smiles).

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— But, seriously, were you trying to somehow psychologically piss him off, lead him to this blunder?

— We analyzed how he takes penalties. I knew his favorite angle, where he was most likely to hit. As it seemed to me, he saw that I started moving towards that corner. And Lechi began to change his mind during the blow, as a result of which he did not succeed.

— A year ago, could you have imagined that you would soon win the competition from Igor Leschuk and Andrey Kudravets?

"I wasn't thinking about it at the time. I played for Dynamo-2 and trained. I understood that sooner or later there would be a chance for any goalkeeper. I was lucky that he introduced himself to me relatively early — many people are waiting for him longer. I wanted to use it. I hope they will continue to give me this opportunity.

— What is the reason for this chance now?

— I'm working and trying to show myself in training. And the Dynamo coaching staff is already making its choice.

— Valery Karpin has serious requirements for goalkeepers in terms of kicking. How do you meet them?

— I will not evaluate myself. You'd better ask Valery Georgievich about this. I think he will give an assessment. I try to fulfill the requirements that we have in the team. If you need to play with your feet, I will try to do it.

— Do you like this kind of game?

- yes. I want to play more from the bottom. I wish we could do it better. And we are training it. Sooner or later we will come to this.

— Did you come across anything like this before working with Karpin?

— It wasn't new to me personally. In the Dynamo and Dynamo-2 academies, everyone tries to play like that. Therefore, when Valery Georgievich came to the club, I understood what we were going to play.

— What did you learn from Lunev?

— I'm a young goalkeeper, so as an experienced person who has played in Europe, he has a lot to learn. I noticed that he plays well with his feet. And I also need to improve in this regard.

— Who is the best goalkeeper in the world for you today?

— Alisson.

— And in terms of playing with your feet?

— To be honest, I don't like Ter Stegen. But I'll probably highlight it. And then there's Ederson. That's all, I think.

— Why don't you like Ter Stegen?

— He plays for Barca. And I don't like Barca (smiles).

— Do you support Real Madrid?

- yes. As soon as I learned about football, I started rooting for it. I like Cristiano Ronaldo.

— Do you believe that you will ever play against Real Madrid? Is there such a dream?

— I have a dream, I believe that it will come true. Kalmurza, the goalkeeper of Kairat, born in 2007, recently played against him in the Champions League. So anything is possible. I don't think he dreamed about it either a year ago.