Aleksey Safonov: ‘Player’s money is to be on the football pitch, not in club’s wallet

Russia did not disappoint

The talk was not short. In the first part of the interview, we talked about the national team of Russia, problems of Russian football, the limit on the number of foreign players, players' salary and the state of affairs in Rubin Kazan. Naturally, we started with the results of the national team of Russia.

Safronov: There is a saying: 'If you don't want to be disappointed, don't be charmed'. I don't think we are stronger than Wales or Slovakia. Each of such players as Hamšík, Bale or Ramsey earn more than the whole national team of Russia. The guys play in serious championships, and not only the above-mentioned players do it. This is why, when many people said we were in an easy group and would go through without problems, I was sceptical about such statements.

But now it's clear all teams of our qualifying group went home. In other words, our qualifying group was weak. We possibly lacked something. But we were not the favourites in Euro. Only fans and your colleagues – journalists – could say it.

I completely agree with you. However, the question is what happened to our football that we even stopped looking like favourites in matches with the teams like Wales or Slovakia?

Let's see. We don't have any alternation of generation. The players who are the leaders of the national team are just 8 years older in respect to the 2008 Euro. And, in general, no young player demonstrated himself. No one went to Europe. Earlier we had a great generation of such players as Shalimov, Karpin, Yuran and Mostovoy.

'As unpleasant as it sounds, we took our place in Euro. Personally, I am not disappointed.' Photo: uefa.com

Then Arshavin, Pavlyuchenko, Kerzhakov, Zhirkov…

They were weaker but they were in demand in Europe. And today we say: Dzagoev was injured, everything broke. We cannot depend on one player only. It is clear we could have played better in France due to our moral and forceful qualities. We maybe lacked fighting spirit in the last game when we managed to win only 9 battles per match. My coach Albert Shesternev used to tell: If you don't know to place, use your bottom'. It means to take the ball away in a tackle.

Generally speaking, as unpleasant as it sounds, we took our place in Euro. Personally, I am not disappointed. We obviously did not bite off more than we could chew, it is our level.

It is not about the limit on the number of foreign players

You noted the absence of the new generation of players in the national team. Many people say the limit on the number of players, which was heavily criticised, is one of the reasons. Even some players of the national team were for its abolition or easing. What do you think about it?

I think it is an excuse for the unsuccessful performance of the team. I'm against a complete cancellation of the limit. It is better to do it like in England. Foreigners who have played for the national team at least 75% of the matches should come here. Here people often purchase cheap foreigners and just make money. And even if he was brought here, and his level is not higher of the level of our player, he is artificially placed in the first eleven. This thing must not happen. For this reason, if only the best players come here, there won't be any queries. For example, such players as Hulk, Witsel, Garay, Vagner Love or Dominguez made huge contributions to our championships.

Don't you think the limit excessively inflated the Russian players' salaries? Can it explain why our players are not going to Europe?

To start with, the question goes to club managers, not players. I suppose when we have private clubs, their heads will count money better. Now our state clubs gave incredible salaries to the football players. I agree that the salaries are enormous. In a normal world, if a chair costs 100 rubles, I won't buy it for 300. I will buy it maximum for 110. And our player's salary exceeds the reasonable payment 2-3 times, he won't play. Motivation disappears, he achieved everything he could.

As for Europe, the main problem is in the absence of good players. As you say, many players feel comfortable in Russia. They get a good salary and are not going to leave the country. But the most important thing is that such countries as Germany, Italy, Spain, England and France don't want our players.

But there is Holland, Belgium, Turkey, Portugal, etc.

Players worked there when they got $1-2,000 and even went to Finland or the Czech Republic for $5,000. The world has changed, though we should pay tribute to those young players who go to that Czech Republic. For example, Denis Davydov was on loan in Mladá Boleslav. It is a pity he was injured. Another example is Vyacheslav Karavaev who played 56 matches for his club out of 60.

It mainly depends on the player's temper and motivation – what he wants to achieve. Karavaev, who was born in in 1995, decided to go to the Czech Republic instead of warming the bench in the second team. And he gained experienced, learnt the language, played in the Champions League against Ajax.

Players often don't go somewhere because they are fine here. First of all, we need to understand that we simply don't have a system until we change something. We don't prepare substitutes. Let's put an example of our key couple of central defenders –Ignashevich and Berezutskykh – who are criticised for being age according to football rules. But who is stronger? Vasin? Mainly foreigners play in these positions in the Russian top clubs.

'Denis Davydov was on loan in Mladá Boleslav… It mainly depends on the player's temper and motivation – what he wants to achieve.' Photo: football-rfpl.ru

Why should it be different if a coach working with kids is paid peanuts and is has to simultaneously work as a taxi driver? A football player who is going to end his career won't work with kids as a coach with such conditions. It means there is no competition.

Nothing will change until we start to respect specialists working with children and build a system of football schools correctly. Now good pitches have been laid outdoors, but they are empty: all kids are playing with their gadgets. It became funny, eSport has appeared – athletes compete sitting in front of their computers (laugh).

Tolstykh destroyed everything

In case of abolition of the limit on the number of foreign players, it seems the Russian players and their agents will be at a huge financial loss. Is it true?

I don't think we will be at a loss. Now there are few agents. Intermediaries account for the majority. Tolstykh (Editor's Note: ex-President of the Russian Football Union) destroyed the system, he did not invent anything new. In addition, he alleged it was Blatter who accused agents of dirty deals. The Swiss turned out to be the thief who shouted most.

Now we need to find talents in the Russian backwater. I am personally interested in it. You can suppose it is my philosophy as an agent. Now we are going to cooperate in this area with Rubin and several Moscow clubs. We will look for 10-12-year-old players and make them professionals.

When you work with a young football player, you not only teach him how to play but also bring him up. It is important football was a No.1 issue for him. I always say to my clients: play, the money will catch up with you. I would like to add that NHL, KHL, NBA also have a salary cap, we also need to reach it.

As for the decrease in the Russian football players' salary in case of the abolition of the limit, we need to understand they are already falling. The financial crisis affected all sectors. Another problem is that we need to reach a system in which players earn money but don't get it. For example, a person played 50% of the matches – is one bonus, 75% — is another one. Goal+pass and other moments. For instance, Sergey Ryzhykov from Rubin has a bonus if he keeps a clean sheet in each five matches. This is why his money is on the pitch, not in the club's wallet as it usually happens in our football.

'Sergey Ryzhykov from Rubin has a bonus if he keeps a clean sheet in each five games. This is why his money is on the pitch, not in the club's wallet as it usually happens in our football.' Photo: Roman Khasaev

My heart doesn't bleed for Ryzhikov

Now as you remembered Ryzhikov, I have the following question. When I visited the open training of Rubin, I noticed the new Spanish specialist Javier Gracia has serious plans. How does your and our favourite Sergey Ryzhikov handle such training?

I will tell you this way. After these training Sergey goes to the gym. It means he has enough strength (laugh). He is in excellent shape. In general, goalkeepers are another caste. Look, van der Sar went to Manchester United aged 35. My heart doesn't bleed for Ryzhikov. Firstly, he follows his regimen. Secondly, he is a professional. I was interested in him when Sergey was the fourth goalkeeper in Saturn. I remember the training ended, he stood there and asked the guys to shoot at the goal. He is a talented guy who achieved everything thanks to his own labour. This is why both his partners and coaches respected him in all clubs.

'Burlak is not a player who holds out much hope. It's time to show that you deserve being in the first eleven on the pitch'. Photo: sports71.ru

Another your client from Rubin Taras Burlak returned from his loan to Kazan. It did not work out with Bilyaletdinov. Will the situation change with the Spaniard?

Burlak's situation is interesting. I think he will be successful in the coming season because he played in Lokomotiv with Couceiro. He played in Krylya Sovetov with Belgian Vercauteren during two seasons. It means he is in the first eleven while working with foreign coaches. It did not work out with Bilyaletdinov. I'm sure Javier Gracia will field the strongest players. And Burlak's age is all-or-nothing. He is not a player who holds out much hope. It's time to show that he deserves being in the first eleven on the pitch. I suppose Taras is ready both physically and mentally.

I sympathise with Rubin

What can Rubin count on in the coming season? What is your opinion?

To tell the truth, the Kazan players don't need to announce pipe dreams like being in the top 3. Moreover, adequate people head the company. The team will have many new players, they need to be a team. But Rubin needs to fight for the participation in European championships.

To be honest, I started to sympathise with the Kazan club a long time ago when I helped Kurban Berdyev with players when Rubin reached Premier League. I know many players. It is clear there was a failure in the system when Berdyev left the club. It should be understood Rubin is a backwater club, it is difficult to compete with our 'oligarchs' from Moscow and St. Petersburg. But the club won the gold of the championship twice, cups and successfully played in European championships.

'The Kazan players don't need to announce pipe dreams like being in the top 3. Moreover, adequate people head the company. The team will have many new players, they need to be a team. But Rubin needs to fight for the participation in European championships.' Photo: Roman Khasaev

The most important thing now is to overcome the fall. I'm sure Tatarstan can do it. This republic is famous for team sports. Apart from football, it is basketball, hockey, volleyball. Tatar teams fight for the victory everywhere. I feel sorry about field hockey, which was frankly forgotten, and no one needs the club.