"If Gusev becomes the head coach of Dynamo, it will be great"

Last weekend, the players of Dynamo Moscow played their first match after Valery Karpin's resignation from the post of head coach. His departure on his own accord happened at the beginning of last week. With acting head coach Rolan Gusev, the blue and white won 3-0 at home against Dynamo Makhachkala in the Russian championship, breaking a series of five meetings without a win in this tournament, in which they currently occupy the ninth place. One of the main symbols of Karpin's six—month era at the club is the debut of young goalkeeper Kurban Rasulov in the main squad.

Back in the summer, the 19-year-old goalkeeper actually became the second number of the team, displacing the experienced Igor Leshchuk from this position. He played three matches in the group stage of the Russian Cup, where the reserve team is usually involved. And in October, after an injury to Dynamo's main goalkeeper Andrei Lunev, he played four matches in the national championship, sitting on the bench only in the last game against Makhachkala after Lunev's return. At the same time, it is possible that Rasulov will take the field in the next second leg of the quarterfinal of the "RPL Path" of the Russian Cup against Zenit St. Petersburg. In an interview with Izvestia, Rasulov spoke about the reaction to Karpin's resignation, summed up the results of his work with him, explained the reasons for the failures in recent games under his leadership and supported Gusev's candidacy as permanent head coach.

"Have we played a lot with our feet in recent matches?"

— When did you first hear that Karpin was leaving Dynamo? How did you react to this?

— On the same day that it was officially announced, when a post appeared on the RFU Telegram channel with the words of Valery Georgievich that he was leaving the club and would focus on the national team. As far as I understand, he resigned on his own. It was unexpected for me.

— A week after his departure, how did the requirements for goalkeepers change?

— Our requirements are always the same — to show a good, reliable game. And it is advisable to play at "zero". Therefore, something fundamental has not changed regarding our position. We continue to do the work that we have been doing — we are preparing for the games and doing everything to bring Dynamo victories. We succeeded in the match against Makhachkala, now we will try to continue winning further.

— So, for example, Karpin's basic requirement for goalkeepers to play a lot with their feet has not disappeared?

— Have we played a lot with our feet in recent matches (smiles)?

— Maybe you couldn't do it. But it is unlikely that there was no such installation, and you did not try to carry it out.

— We tried, of course. But I won't say that it was a lot. I think in the match against Makhachkala, Andriukha Lunev also played a lot with his feet. So, as far as I'm concerned, goalkeepers have the same thing now that they had under Valery Georgievich.

The third approach: why Karpin decided to focus on the national team again

The head coach of the national team left Dynamo and referred to preparations for his return to the international arena.

"First of all, we need a result"

— Do you have an explanation for why, with the exception of the away cup match with Zenit (3-1), Dynamo showed such poor results in recent matches under Karpin, without winning any of the last five league matches?

— To be honest, it's hard to answer. I think we played well. But in those matches where we lost points, we conceded goals that didn't go out of the logic of the game at all. Individual mistakes have happened. I don't know what they are related to, but as a result of them we couldn't win.

— What did you personally get for six months of working with Karpin?

— Obviously, the most important thing for me is to make my debut for the Dynamo main squad. Both in the Russian Cup and in the championship. So in my case, the results of Valery Georgievich's work are positive. I will always be grateful to him for entrusting me with a place in goal, for the fact that I got the opportunity to play so many matches for Dynamo.

— Not so long ago, the former goalkeeper of Dynamo and the Russian national team, Vladimir Gabulov, criticized the current goalkeeper coach of your team, Dmitry Izotov, saying that no matter who plays in this position, the club has problems all the time. How would you describe your current mentor?

— Dmitry Sergeevich is a strong goalkeeper specialist. I think the time he has been working in our team is quite long (since 2019, with five head coaches. — Ed.), shows that the management and all the head coaches who have been at Dynamo during this time have confidence in him. In my opinion, this is fair — as for me, he works very well with us.

— On the eve of the first match under Gusev's leadership, the club's management held a meeting with the team. Sergei Stepashin, a member of the Dynamo Board of directors, said that Rolan Alexandrovich will remain the head coach next year if he wins all four remaining matches before the winter break. The first one is won. What should I do to win the next three?

— We will make every effort to do this, and that is what we will do. I think we have a good chance of winning in each of the three remaining matches this year. We understand our tournament position and that we need to improve it. So we will do everything to win the remaining meetings.

— Is Rolan Gusev ready to lead the team not as an acting coach, but as a permanent head coach?

— Roland Alexandrovich has known us all for a long time, because he has been working on the coaching staff of Dynamo for two and a half years. And we know him well. If everything goes well and he becomes the head coach, everything will be fine. Because first of all we need a result.