Alexander Mostovoy: Completely on the side of Ronaldo

– On Wednesday, the last matches in the 1/8 finals of the World Cup are closed by Spain and Portugal. In the first one, you won the glory of the Russian “tsar”, and in the second, you were just starting your foreign career. Did the Portuguese beginning leave any mark on your destiny?

– Of course. It was a difficult period when the Union was falling apart. Who could leave to seek his fortune in Western clubs. Therefore, it was in Portugal that my mentality began to change, a different worldview began to appear. For the first time I understood what professionalism is, how you can play football and at the same time arrange your personal life.

– The current generation of Portuguese certainly has no problems with this. A lot can be allowed outside the field, but then all matches are played from a position of strength. They play according to the principle: as long as we have the ball, we will not be scored.

– In terms of the composition and quality of the players, they are simply obliged to play this way, and not only them. I don’t understand players at all who are capable of playing the game, but at the same time giving across or generally knocking out anyhow. It’s one thing if you don’t know how; and if it is given, then use it.

– Ronaldo is unhappy with the fact that he is changed in the second half. Can it come to a serious conflict, like the Belgians, where, as it turned out, the partners did not like de Bruyne’s interview?

– I am completely on the side of Ronaldo – both in this situation and in Manchester, from his interview. Why are you changing him if he is really the best on the field? Naturally, he is not happy. Football players decide everything, and coaches only then hang their laurels? I know that the team is on his side.

— Oh, how the player is still alive in you! And they say that after a career, first of all, you need to kill a football player in yourself …

I was, am and will remain. And those who did not play football at all, but came to coach… whom should they kill in themselves? Dentist? So let them kill.

“Switzerland doesn’t work for me at all. Dig in?

– I don’t think. They showed with the Serbs that they can play forward, and in the middle, and behind them they have order. This is not Poland or Australia.

– What is their chance against Ronaldo and Kº?

– Do not miss quickly, and then build the game as in the previous match. Everyone shouted: Serbia, Serbia! And where is she with her scattering of talents? Houses. And Switzerland is still biting. The players there are also very decent.

– Spain quickly went from 7:0 with Costa Rica to 1:2 with Japan. Is it different teams?

– Same. At the last European Championship, I was waiting for them in the final, but Italy turned out to be stronger. And then there was some skepticism. He has only gotten stronger. I absolutely do not understand the replacement of Luis Enrique, who removes the best and leaves others on the field.

– For example?

Pedri keeps playing back and forth. It’s because of people like him that 82 percent of the possession of the field with Japan turns into 1:2 on the scoreboard. Germany, too, could well punish them. But there are people, the same Pedri knows how to play other football. I don’t understand this.

– Unlike the Portuguese, Brazilian and French colleagues, Luis Enrique practically did not change the squad for the passing match with the Japanese. Why do you think?

– That’s what I’m talking about. Why put the same ones just to roll the ball? I can do that even at 50. Sane showed them how to play: run, take the ball, choke! And the Spaniards, at any touch, bounce off three corps. Good thing, Morata is alive, helping them out for now.

– Something you really are quite skeptical about their youth. On the side of the veterans entirely?

– I’m on the side of football. It is impossible to give 9 out of 10 gears across and back. Need to sharpen. Now it would be nice for them to learn not only from the Germans, but also from the Japanese.

– Kiryakov said that Enrique should not be engaged in streaming and be distracted from the main thing. How do you feel about the know-how of the Spanish “selectionador”?

– I’m fine with it. For all that I have said, I respect Enrique both as a player and as a coach. He deserved the opportunity to make his choice. Not chatter, when everything is according to books, but real deeds.

– Deserved, probably, and the right to choose their future fate. And then literally now there was information about his departure from the national team after the end of the World Cup.

– Very unexpected news. I hope this is his decision.

Morocco is probably the main hidden favourite. Powerful, agree, gang?

— I wouldn’t say. Looking with whom to compare. The United States and Canada were also praised by many.

– Four favorites miraculously lost the final matches of the group. But if the defeat of Brazil and France did not affect the tournament alignment, the Spaniards and the Portuguese changed everything drastically with their attitude. Does football forgive such pranks or not?

– Even before the last round, I warned that there would be unexpected losses.

– You said in the case of the Spaniards, they say, think for yourself. Is this a transparent hint?

– I did not see any malicious intent in their loss, but subconsciously they took care of themselves.

– What was said about this in Spain, because you probably have many friends left there?

– They were dissatisfied, but no one connected this with a game of giveaway. I received a lot of messages – all were actually about football, and not about intrigues.