"For me, there is no such task as "not to be eliminated," I want to win"

The current offseason in Russian football has been marked by global changes in the life of the Samara Wings of the Soviets. The head coach Igor Osinkin, who has been at the head of the Volga Region since 2020, left the team. He was replaced by Magomed Adiev. A considerable group of leading players also left Samara, and the club's management was already strengthening the squad during the pre-season.

Midfielder Sergei Babkin is one of the few players in the main squad who remained in Krylia. In an interview with Izvestia, he spoke about changes in tactics under the new head coach, preparations for the season and tasks for the next Russian championship draw.

— How ready is the team for the start of the season?

— If we look at the first games of the preseason, then we look much better now. Our form and game are improving closer to the start of the season. Physical fitness is getting better. As for tactics, with each friendly match, we understand the new tactical scheme of our team better and better. We are still getting used to some of the requirements of our head coach, but in general it is clear that we are improving.

— How has the work changed under the new head coach Magomed Adiev?

— At the beginning of the pre-season, we gained more physical fitness. But now we're moving on to more tactical tasks. And it's becoming more and more clear what we're going to play.

— What's new in terms of tactics?

— It's about the same as it was under Igor Vitalievich Osinkin, but we just slightly adjusted to the game of five defenders in order to play more reliably in defense. However, in general, our attacking actions are similar. We play out several options at someone else's goal against different teams, both stronger and plus or minus the same as us. So the work is on. I think we'll see in the season what kind of result it will bring.

— Considering what a significant role Igor Osinkin and the players who joined the Chertanovo team with him played in the results of Krylia in the previous five years, can we say that a whole era in Samara has ended? How has the atmosphere in the club changed?

— The changes in the Wings of the Soviets are enormous — this is generally clear to everyone. Fresh blood was added. I don't know what will come of this in the future. But as football players, we will do everything for success. We shouldn't pay attention to the changes. We are professionals. And whoever we put in charge of head coaches and management, we need to do all the necessary work and fulfill the tasks that are set for us. Yes, there are a lot of new people coming to us now during the training camp. But everyone is gradually joining the team, and everything is fine.

"We want to be as high in the table as possible"

Krylia Sovetov football player Vadim Rakov — on goals for the upcoming RPL season and rent to Samara from Lokomotiv

— Is there a reduction in the budget of Krylia by 500 million rubles, which was mentioned by the governor of the Samara Region Vyacheslav Fedorishchev?

— No, we still get paid on time, and the conditions for training are good. There is no problem.

— Krylia is tasked with finishing in the top eight of the Russian Premier League in the upcoming championship. Is it real?

— I don't know, it's hard to talk about tasks right now. But I think we just need to play our best football from game to game and achieve victories. I can say for myself that I don't like such a task as "not getting kicked out." Yes, someone will say that this is objective, because it corresponds to the club's capabilities. But as an athlete, I always want to win. It doesn't matter who the game is with. Without a difference. For me, there is no such task as "not to be eliminated" — I want to win.