Head coach of national curling team of Russia: ‘In general, people in Russia are not very interested in sport’

'I follow the chess world to some extent. I know Kramnik'

Many people call curling a 'chess on the ice'. Do you agree with that? Do you like chess?

This comparison was invented in Canada. That's not strictly true, but, of course, there are similar moments. In general, curling is a surprising sport. Both physical shape and intelligence are important here as well as a skill of thinking out of the box in critical moments, don't be confused, be tactically prepared. At one point one should know to forget all the tactical schemes and follow their hunch. A chess player also needs these qualities except great physical shape, of course.

I follow the chess world to some extent. I know Kramnik. I play chess too. I even had a title. In our teams, guys, especially girls, are not interested in chess. Russian curling is a sport of the young. And today's young is not very keen on the King's Game. But we play it sometimes with Sasha (Editor's Note: Aleksander Krushelnitsky). I won't tell who is the winner. I think it is useful to a skip.

Remembering matches of the championship, how did you manage to control your temper and keep your composure? You probably wanted to swear the guys for childish mistakes during the matches with Poland, Australia, Switzerland.

Well, what is the sense of shouting at them? It is one thing if they lost. And it is not fine to raise fists after the scuffle. When you have a match, you are asked to help (a team's skip can ask the referee to take time out twice and talk to the coach), you have 60 seconds and a chance to change the game and save the match. There is no sense in shouting in such conditions. We are in the same boat. There is no sense in loading with tactical schemes as well. It is better to support the guys, give them hope and belief in themselves because they are able of everything and they know everything. They just forget about it at times. There were mistakes because of an excessive desire.

A classical Russian story: is there any pressure of the stands, powers that be and the federation?

It has nothing to do here! No, of course, we were 'asked' to get medals – the championship at home, development of curling, etc. As if other countries did not develop curling. That's not the point. We all sincerely wanted to win. We saw how many people came to the competitions, how they supported and worry, what posters they prepared. We could not let them down. This is why we frequently failed starts of the games. We simply burnt out before the game, we could not control ourselves. It happens, it is fine. The final result is the most important thing.

As a coach, could you tell what is more pleasant: a confident victory or incredible comeback? Spectators, fans and journalists prefer the second option.

We are on different sides of the ice rink. For you, sport is a show, while I am the conductor of the 'orchestra'. Of course, I want everything to go according to plan. And a comeback means a failed episode of a game that had to be forcedly corrected by changing the playing tactics during the match. It is not simple.

It is better to support the guys, give them hope and belief in themselves because they are able of everything and they know everything. They just forget about it at times.

'I don't know what Match TV does'

You thank the fans, though there were not many fans in many matches. Or did other competitions have fewer fans?

The hall is always full when the national team of Russia competes. The thing is that a half of the stadium is expected to be given to 'important persons', volunteers, employees and other people who are not interested in curling, and a fan can't buy a ticket to a game. It is a pity that there were few people in other teams' games when the Russian team did not play. Tickets give an opportunity to watch several games. But nobody stayed to watch games of the giants of curling. There are more people in Canada and Scotland, of course. The venue is bigger, and unlike here, the stands are full even if the host team is not competing.

In general, people in Russia is not very interested in sport. I noticed it a long time ago, I mean not only curling. The Olympics in Sochi, Ice Hockey World Championship – even if the stands are not empty in the matches were Russia is not playing, they are absolutely inert.

Moreover, there is no culture of support. To be glad about your rival's mistake in curling is a bad manner, I don't know what it means in football. I understand that we would be speaking about another result without the Swiss skip's mistakes. In any case, it spoils our fans.

What is needed to form a culture of a correct fan in Russia? Maybe we should start some programme for these goals.

I don't know what Match TV does. But it certainly doesn't propagandise sport, the culture of sport and fair play. Every piece is a scandal, intrigue, investigation, politics, money… As well as our journalism. I don't want to offend you, but you understand it yourself.

I understand but athletes in Russia don't have a due culture of talking to the press too! Sport won't have fans, sponsors and money without media!

Not in Russia. We know what sport is designed for here (smiling). In general, you are right. I always say to my guys not to refuse interviews. I am ready to talk too.

Many thanks for it. Have you ever had any unpleasant situations with journalists? Are there any no-go areas?

It was a bit unpleasant to talk in Sochi. Many 'great' sports journalists who knew nothing about curling, classification of teams, the situation came and pretended to be 'experts'. Family and attitude to players who were not included in the national team are no-go areas…

Like attitude to Valeria Miksha?

Yes, sure. It is another story. One should distinguish sports and human factors here. Now we have good relationships. I am happy for her. She is glad about everything. Everyone is happy! (Editor's Note: Valeria Miksha is a former skip of the youth national team of Russia who did not withstand a competition, changed her sports citizenship, so now she is playing for the Netherlands)

Would you accept Valeria in her today's shape to the national team?

No, I would not. I am completely satisfied with my team. They confirmed the correctness of my choice with their result. The topic has been closed.

Valeria Miksha is a former skip of the youth national team of Russia who did not withstand a competition, changed her sports citizenship, so now she is playing for the Netherlands. Photo: worldcurling.org

'I can't say I ban relations but I don't welcome them'

So, in your opinion, is it important to create a correct atmosphere in the team to achieve a result?

Of course! The national curling team is small, we are like a family. And roles are distributed in the team like in a family. There are same rules and traditions. Don't wash your dirty linen in public is one of the main Russian family traditions. This is why, if something happens in the team, you will be the last person to know about it.

What do you think about the attitude of guys and girls to each other? Are marriages in the curling team possible?

Yes, they are possible because they are constantly together. It unites. At the same time many people, on the contrary, are 'fed up' and can't see each other out of competitions. Look at the team of Slovakia: husband, wife, boyfriend, girlfriend – a real family team! Personally, I am against it. There is an extra distracting factor, a factor of risk. I can't say I ban relations but I don't welcome them, so to speak.

Generally speaking, do you discuss everyday topics with your athletes?

Yes, sometimes they ask for my advice. I sometimes ask for their advice. I am for business relations, maintenance of subordination. It is necessary to divide work, sport and life, though it is impossible at times.

I am for business relations, maintenance of subordination. It is necessary to divide work, sport and life, though it is impossible at times.

Okey. Back to the competitions. Are you completely satisfied with your team?

The team accomplished the task we had set. I am completely satisfied. Difficulties during the games made us stronger and strengthened our spirit. 10 matches – 10 victories. But I understood many people looked sidelong at the team. Now there is a state of euphoria. Russian national team's coach is a punishable post not only in football.

In other words, did you feel any pressure from functionaries of the federation and the Ministry of Sport?

It was not a pressure and not only from the federation. For example, there were questions like 'probably you needed to lose the match with Australia to have a better rival in the playoff'. How can I say to my guys to lose? How can I field the team in the World Championship at home with a defeatist attitude?

'There is a great amount of people who would like to occupy my post'

Did you understand you would have to play with Switzerland in the quarterfinal?

I don't want to seem arrogant. But if we set challenging tasks, we have to be ready to play with any team in the competition. I knew if we had lost, they would have eaten me alive without choking. There is a great amount of people who would like to occupy my post. But these people don't understand what they want.

How would you estimate the organisation level of the championship?

Fine, a world level. For example, it is higher than in very Zurich. The level in Canada, Scotland, Norway is better, of course. But it is better due to experience and curling traditions. Our curling is a bit older than 20 years. This will come with time.

Did you talk to your colleagues? What do they say?

First of all, it is your work to talk to my colleagues about it (smiling). Yes, we exchanged a few words. In general, they praise. There are some difficulties. But these niceties are not said to the press.

Is Russia ready to host high-level curling competitions?

We already had them, by the way. The Olympiad in Sochi was 2 years ago. It is the highest level in curling. A cooler thing has not been invented yet, and it is not necessary. Ice Cube is an amazing curling centre. There is a famous ice rink in Podmoskovie. We train there often. Chelyabinsk, of course. And curling started developing in Kazan too. Your President signed several cooperation agreements. I hope they won't remain just on paper.

'I am against the state interference in sports affairs'

As I see, you are not a big fan of bureaucratic state apparatuses.

I am against their interference in sports affairs. I don't mean only Russia. It is a global problem.

Do you want sport to be apolitical?

I am for the openness of sport, its social functions. Teams from around the world have gathered here. It is so great! It is seen that the world is very big and small at the same time.

Do you support the invitations of exotic national teams? They can't be rivals for giants of curling.

Only a handful of teams can be a rival for real giants of curling. I support the invitation of such national teams as Brazil, Andorra. Yes, these teams are just joining the big curling family. But they are doing it rapidly. They will look differently in a couple of years. For example, the reigning champions – Norway – brought their reserve players to Kazan, bench warming reserves. What is the result? And New Zealand has considerably improved, they reached the playoff. Team Sweden is a silver medallist. How did they suffer in the match with the islanders! Relaxation and a lack of mood of the Swedish players are not the reason here…

If we set challenging tasks, we have to be ready to play with any team in the competition. I knew if we had lost, they would have eaten me alive without choking.

What perspectives does curling have in Russia? Have they changed after your win?

I don't think that something has drastically changed. Curling is an Olympic sports. Double mixed has been added to the Olympic programme. This can affect. In Korea, we won't be able to win medals in three competitions that we got in Sochi. There will be downfalls. New types, new victories are needed. And curling has a chance here.

How to make your team stronger? What do you think about naturalisation of Scottish or Canadian athletes?

I am strongly against it. It won't be a national team of Russia but a kind of curling club with the symbol of our national team. I will be banal: build ice rinks, open classes, invite kids. Then you will have Olympic medals. Yes, not immediately but certainly in 10-15 years and many times.