Mikhail Gershkovich: “Karpin works quite confidently, they don’t look for good from good”

The chairman of the board of the Association of Domestic Football Coaches commented to MK on the extension of the contract with Karpin as head coach of the Russian national team.

The Russian Football Union and the coaching staff of the national team of the country have agreed to continue cooperation until August 1, 2024. According to the RFU website, the union also agreed with the head coach and his assistants the possibility of further combining work in the national team and the Rostov football club.

Mikhail Danilovich Gershkovich, chairman of the board of the Association of Domestic Football Coaches, member of the executive committee of the RFU, former coach of the Russian national team, expressed his opinion about the decision taken by MK.

– The Russian Football Union has extended the contract with the head coach of the national team, Valery Karpin, until August 1, 2023. How do you rate his work?

– It was an expected decision. As they say, good is not sought from good. He works quite confidently. The current combat unit, which today we have among the best Russian trainers.

– It fell to Karpin to lead the national team not in the most simple times – domestic football is under tough sanctions from FIFA and UEFA. In your opinion, what is the most important task of the national team under these conditions?

– For the national team in such a situation, all tasks should be solved jointly – by the leadership of the RFU and the coaching staff of the team. I know firsthand that our football union is doing a great job of finding rivals for the national team in this difficult time. The main task now is to play. Play and gather as often as possible so that the spirit of teamwork is not lost, so that relationships within the team are improved. In the current situation, it doesn’t even matter who to play against. It is important to play and often be “under the same roof”.

Perhaps the geography of searches can be expanded, but I know that many options are being worked out. I hope that in the near future the team will have even more rivals.

– The duties of the national team include not only holding official and friendly matches. She should still be engaged in the popularization of football in the country. Can the team in the current situation do something more for the development of youth football in the country?

– The national team accompanies all programs for the development of youth football of the RFU with its participation. Both players and coaches are involved in this process.

Head coach Karpin and his coaching staff could be even more involved in the work of the institute of coaching staffs for all Russian national teams. Share your experience with all youth team coaches. There is such a symbiosis, it works well, but it can be strengthened.

***

The nearest training team of Russia, according to the website of the RFU, will be held from 14 to 20 November. As part of it, two away friendly matches will be played – on the 17th against Tajikistan in Dushanbe and on the 20th against Uzbekistan in Tashkent.