Alexander Zayakin: "Strength is not in blind rage, but in order and discipline"

— How easy or difficult was this victory achieved today? Did you have to suffer with Zenit?

— Before the start of the match, I tried to convey to the team a simple idea: strength is not in blind rage when you want to tear up an opponent at all costs, but in order, discipline, position control, support for each other and fulfillment of your tasks.

I tried to convey to the girls that the most important thing for them today is character, team discipline. And honestly, I'm proud of the girls, thank them very much! They have fully completed the installation.

As for the result, everything is natural. The rivals scored a goal, which they immediately began to guard. It was a big mistake to guard the score from the 14th minute. We took the ball under control, began to play a low block, defend compactly, but we also began to have moments "behind our backs" and between the lines, which we took advantage of in the end.

— The Zenit coach said that he was very impressed with the last twenty minutes of his team's performance. Is Dynamo really hooked and, if so, was there such a setup to play better defensively and not strive forward?

— In no case was there an installation to sit down, on the contrary, they tried to lift the players. But this happens – players with a good score want to be safe. And at some points the girls lost the martial arts, did not hit the goal, gave the initiative, which should not have been done, of course. In response, we received a lot of shots at our own goal, hitting the crossbar.

So in this regard, the Zenit coach is right that we were pressed a little. We tried to drive the players forward so that they wouldn't sit down, but in the end we still had to switch to the defensive game in order to somehow protect ourselves. Thanks to our defense here!

In general, there was one mechanism and one team on the field today. I am very proud of this! What I also told the girls separately after the game.

— Nevertheless, the first 15 minutes in the performance of Zenit were rather stunning. A quick goal is proof of that. How did it happen?

— It is clear that according to statistics, most goals are scored either in the first 15 minutes, or from the 30th to the 45th minute, when the team either did not go to the game or lost concentration. I don't quite agree with the fact that we were somehow stunned in the opening of the meeting.

We know how Zenit plays, we were preparing for this, we said before the game that the most dangerous thing for rivals is the standards from which they score a lot of goals. Therefore, the task was to reduce the number of corners, penalties, outs. And although we were caught on this corner, it played a cruel joke with Zenit.

— The next game is with CSKA. How real is a rematch?

— CSKA is a team that plays differently compared to Zenit. It is clear that this is a very good team, it has strong personalities.

But in any case, the mood will be maximum. And that year we defeated CSKA, and this year we will try to do it. Now the team is going on a two-week break related to the national teams. We give the girls four days to exhale, disconnect, and rest. Then we will systematically prepare, there is nothing terrible in this team, the girls know everything.

CSKA, Zenit, Spartak – it doesn't matter who plays against us. Nothing changes, we will dance more from ourselves.

— Will there be a special mood for the derby?

— You know, I am a CSKA graduate, so it will be a double motivation for me. The team's mood will also be exorbitant, this is a game with a team from the top 5, which means a game for six points. We will fight!

For full information about the starting lineups and the events of the meeting, see the match center.