Exclusive interview of the Chief Coach of Armenia’s National Football Team Vardan Minasyan to Mediamax
- What mood is in your team today, when two days are left till the game with the National Team of Russia?
- The mood is very elevated. We are getting ready for the match, so to say, with a fighting spirit, just like for all other games. We do not want to single out this game anyhow. The game with Russia is a regular match from Euro-2012 cycle for us.
- Hasn’t the great fuss, which has been made in connection with this match, influenced anyhow the psychological spirit of the team?
- We did not even touch upon that issue, since I simply see no meaning in that. It is meaningless to spend our time on such talks.
- What is the main emphasis in the process of preparing for the match with the Russian Team?
- Naturally, we prepare for each match in different ways; we take into account strengths and weaknesses of the rival. One should simply study them and prepare for the game in accordance with that.
- Do you confirm the news on fullback Ararat Arakelyan’s trauma?
- Ararat Arakelyan has a light trauma. Although he expressed a wish to stay with the team, we did not want to take the risk.
- How is the general situation concerning that issue? Are there traumatized players in the National Team?
- There are no problems concerning other football players. We have 21 players at our disposal and they are all ready to enter the field.
- Our rival also has losses: Bistrov and Anyukov will not be able to enter the field of the Republican Stadium. Is this fact taken into account while getting ready for the match?
- Russia has other football players, who can successfully substitute for the above-mentioned players, since our rival has a wide choice. This is why I don’t think that the given fact could anyhow affect the game of the National Team of Russia.
- Chief Coach of Russia’s National Team Dick Advocaat promised that his players will be playing in Yerevan “very aggressively, like with Ireland and Macedonia”. Are you ready for that?
- Of course we are ready. We have studied the game of Russia, we know how the team plays and what its style is.
- Are there any news concerning the possible return of goalkeeper Apoula Bete to the National Team of Armenia?
- Not yet. I know that a meeting has taken place (between the President of the Football Association of Armenian Ruben Hayrapetyan and the footballer, - editor), but I don’t know the details.
- How do our football players spend their spare time, when they are not training?
- As you know, we hold trainings in the new Football Academy. There are very good conditions here, in which we can quietly prepare for the game. And concerning spare time, there is television and internet here that they can use.
- Are our players allowed to communicate with their relatives and friends?
- If we are speaking of the Academy – no, since it is a closed territory here. The Academy is opened on the 22nd, and on other days it is closed for the players to have the chance to quietly prepare for the game.
