"We still have a lot of mistakes, every game brings something new"

The KHL regular season match between Sochi and CSKA Moscow on February 23 was interrupted after the first period with the score 0-0 due to the threat of a UAV attack. Given the density of the March calendar of both teams, the League had to postpone the game to Moscow on March 11, whereas another match between them was originally scheduled for March 10. In an interview with Izvestia, Army forward Vitaly Abramov commented on the postponement situation, assessed the team's results in the regular season and spoke about the expectations for the playoffs starting at the end of March.

— How did the postponement of the Sochi match affect the team?

— The event, of course, is not standard, but in general it should not affect us in any way. We are concentrating on the game, so we calmly went out for the next match against Neftekhimik and won (2-0).

— Taking into account the fact that almost all of CSKA's games in the remaining part of the regular season take place every other day, they will have to finish the meeting with Sochi the next day after the home match with the same team. Are you ready to play two days in a row?

— It's not scary to play two days in a row. But in general, we are waiting for the KHL's decision (the interview took place on February 25, a day before the League's decision. — Ed.). As the League says, that's how we'll play. It's not up to us.

— How much is the team's optimal condition now?

— We work every day, we concentrate on our game, we watch a lot of videos with analysis of our matches. I think our condition is working. Everyone is ready well.

— CSKA is fifth in the Western Conference, but it is already close to the top 4. How important is it to finish in the top four, which gives you an advantage in the first matches of the playoffs?

— We play every game to win. And then it's as it turns out.

— You have almost spent a whole regular season under the current head coach Igor Nikitin, who returned to the club in the summer. How have the requirements for your link with Prokhor Poltapov and Maxim Sorkin changed under him?

— In general, the whole team's game system has changed. I don't even know what can be distinguished here regarding our particular link.

— Maybe we need to work more defensively than last season?

— We always work on defense. That's rule number one.

Sports weekend with Izvestia

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— CSKA had a disastrous first half of the regular season, and at the end of November you were even out of the playoff zone. How did you manage to turn the situation around and significantly rise in the table in the last three months?

— Only at the expense of work. Honest daily work. It paid off. We need to keep going and not stop.

— Can we say that the team has already been built and are you ready for the playoffs?

— I repeat, we focus on every next day. We're getting ready, we're working.

— What else do you need to improve in order to compete for the Gagarin Cup in the playoffs?

— It is very difficult to achieve perfection. But we still have a lot of mistakes, and every game brings something new. All this needs to be sorted out. And we are doing this to be as ready as possible for the playoffs.