I N T E R V I E W
BY ANDY ROXBURGH, UEFA TECHNICAL DIRECTOR.
HE HAS AN INFECTIOUS SMILE AND HE HAS MUCH TO SMILE ABOUT. VALERIY GAZZAEV, THE HEAD COACH OF PFC CSKA MOSKVA, WAS A TOP PROFESSIONAL PLAYER, HAS WON MANY TITLES AS A COACH, AND OWNS A SHARE IN AN OIL WELL. AS A PLAYER, HE WON THE EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP AT UNDER-23 (1976) AND UNDER-21 (1980) LEVELS, WAS A BRONZE MEDALLIST FOR THE USSR AT THE 1980 OLYMPIC GAMES AND LIFTED THE SOVIET CUP (1984) AS A MEMBER OF THE FC DINAMO MOSKVA SQUAD - HE SCORED 89 GOALS IN 283 APPEARANCES IN THE TOP SOVIET LEAGUE.
IN HIS MANAGERIAL ROLE, THE FORMER INTERNATIONAL STRIKER (EIGHT APPEARANCES AND FOUR GOALS FOR THE USSR), HAS CAPTURED THE RUSSIAN CHAMPIONSHIP FOUR TIMES (ONCE WITH SPARTAK ALANIA-VLADIKAVKAZ AND THE OTHERS WITH CSKA MOSKVA), THE RUSSIAN CUP THREE TIMES (ALL WITH CSKA MOSKVA), AND BECAME THE FIRST RUSSIAN COACH TO LIFT THE UEFA CUP (2005), WHEN CSKA MOSKVA BEAT SPORTING CLUBE DE PORTUGAL IN THE FINAL IN LISBON. THE MAN FROM VLADIKAVKAZ WAS RUSSIA'S COACH OF THE YEAR IN 2005, COACH OF THE NATIONAL TEAM FOR A SHORT PERIOD, AND RECEIVED THE ORDER OF FRIENDSHIP AND THE ORDER OF HONOUR FROM THE RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT. IN HIS PLAYING DAYS, HE WAS KNOWN AS A WIZARD WITH THE BALL, AND AS A COACH HE HAS PRODUCED NUMEROUS MOMENTS OF MAGIC TO BECOME ONE OF RUSSIA'S MOST SUCCESSFUL TECHNICIANS. A PARTICIPANT IN UEFA'S ELITE CLUB COACHES FORUM
FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS AND A MEMBER OF UEFA'S CHAMPIONS LEAGUE TECHNICAL STUDY GROUP IN 2006 AND 2007, HE IS THE MAN WITH THE SMILE - HE IS...
VALERIY GAZZAEV
1 • What was the reaction in Russia when you won the UEFA Cup?
Of course, this was a great success because never before had a Russian club won a European trophy. It was a big celebration and recognition for the whole nation. The president of the country gave us a reception in the Kremlin and the reaction from everyone was amazing. We won because we had good players, a good president and a good coach (he laughs and the smile sparkles). The commitment was total and everyone did his job professionally. The key was balance - the balance between our Brazilian and Russian players allowed us to benefit from the qualities of each group.
2 • What system of play do you use with CSKA Moskva?
All my career at CSKA Moskva, I have used the same system - with three defenders, five midfielders and two strikers. The two wing backs have always done a great job both defensively and offensively. Since 2001, we have won many trophies playing in this way and my players like this system of play. The most important aspect for us is that we are very well organised and responsible in our defensive work - everybody has his clearly defined job. The second key is having five in midfield, not just quantity but also quality. We can really build up the attacks, particularly with the use of our fast players on the flanks. The high level of our twin strikers completes the team unit and Produces a system which I am very comfortable with. Last season in the UEFA Champions League, we scored 16 goals and only conceded four, so the system works for us. I find that three at the back is more secure because, first and foremost, they know what to do defensively and they remain in place, while a zonal four can become stretched and imbalanced - the latter has quantity but for me the former has greater security.
3 • You have four Brazilians in your team. What are the advantages and disadvantages?
When we got our Brazilian players they were not famous - they were young boys when they came to us. During their time with us, they have matured into Brazilian national team players, and now CSKA is the only team giving
four players to the Brazilian national team. These players have great technical qualities, they are very professional, and they are a big plus for us because we win many matches on account of their quality. The big disadvantage is that we lose them when they are away with Brazil.
4 • How would you describe your training methods?
Firstly, we focus on intensity because today's game is very quick and high tempo. Therefore, my training is intense and close to the match situation. Of course, we do a lot of tactical work, together with coordination and fluid movement - these elements are combined. Usually, I incorporate the tactics we will use in the game - the physical aspect is also included, so it is a combined, complex approach. We do practical exercises on pressing, which are exhausting because they require everyone to work hard. I never hold training sessions for longer than one hour and fifteen minutes, but they are very concentrated and demanding in order to push everybody up to the match level.
5 • What are the tactical trends in Russian football?
I would say that the tactical trends are similar to those in the rest of Europe. Many use 4-4-2 or 4-3-3 but the quality of the play is not as high as the top UEFA Champions League teams. The only one who is not following the trends is me. Most of the clubs are playing cautiously, building from defence and playing counter-attack - the aim is mainly not to lose.
6 • The next UEFA Champions League final will be in Moscow. What can we expect?
Firstly, I hope that a Russian club will be in the final. It is a great honour for Russia to get the final and we will do everything to make it a big success. For the whole country and for the association, it is an important development. It will attract a great deal of attention to football and I am sure it will be a well-organised, spectacular final. I agree with the decision to play on real grass, although the artificial surface in Moscow is good. The level of organisation will be high and Moscow will do its utmost to welcome everybody.
7 • Do you think that a team from Russia is capable of winning the UEFA Champions League in the near future?
There has been a lot of investment in the game in Russia, including the infrastructure, and the competitive level has improved, with eight or nine top clubs of a similar standard. I believe that in the near future we are capable of having a team in the final of the UEFA Champions League. It is really only in the last six years that we have become fully professional in Russian football and we are now experiencing a rapid development in the game. I think that in five years' time we can have one of the top five championships in Europe. Now we are investing in quality players, and top coaches are coming to Russia, so the trend is towards the top European level.
8 • Who were your favourite players and coaches?
I believe every coach should have his own way. We should not copy - yes, I like Sir Alex Ferguson and I respect his work, but the key is to find your own way. Oleg Blokhin, who I played with, was a great player, as was Lev Yashin and, of course, Valerii Lobanovskyi was an outstanding coach in the former USSR.
9 • Is there still a distinctive Russian style of football?
I don't think that there is a Russian style of playing football because we have many foreign players and coaches.
Of course, there is South American and European football, and we are part of the latter. Maybe there was a Soviet style, but now modern Russia does not have a distinctive way of playing.
10 • How do you handle today's top professionals?
It is a big problem to handle top professionals nowadays, but I can deal with that. I am constantly working on psychology and I have intense discussions with the players, trying to make them understand that money is only
part of the equation. They need to work for their name - their reputation. It is not an easy task, but I feel that I can cope. I am always touching the human aspect - they are football players, but their behaviour is also important. They need to learn from their experiences because it will benefit them later in life, and I communicate regularly with the players on a one- to-one basis. Strict discipline in the team is a priority for us - it is the base.
Then come the individual discussions and the personal development. Of course, you cannot make players from the outside (such as the Brazilians) love Russia, but you can get them to respect the traditions here and to do their job as professionals. The Brazilians love Brazil, naturally, so we experience a difference in mentality between our Russian players and those who have come from South America.
11 • What do you think are the most important qualities of a modern coach?
As a coach you need to be aware of the culture where the players come from and react accordingly. There needs to be a very good relationship between the coach and the player, no matter their place of origin. The coach needs to be a strong character and a good psychologist. I read a lot and I prepare myself to deal with the various psychological problems. When the players think that the coach is not a strong character, then everything can be lost, even if he has all the tactical knowledge and an outstanding ability to read the game.
12 • Do you see a difference between Eastern Europe and the West in the approach to the game?
I think there is a difference between the East and the West. We in Russia have just started with a professional life, including the contractual duties of a player, dealing with the owner/president, etc. All of this is new to our people and the mentality is different in the East. But I see things changing and gradually we are moving towards the same standards as those in the leading Western countries. However, I must admit that there is a difference today, although respect for the players and the coaches is going up and up.
13 • For you, what are the best and the worst aspects of football today?
For the last 100 years, football has been the most popular game and I love it. However, some developments have disappointed me. I do not agree with the current interpretation of the offside law because many are afraid and therefore play cautiously. This is a negative trend in the game. Also, football is so popular that it can create jealousy when some get too much money or too much fame. From a positive perspective, I will never forget the emotion of winning the UEFA Cup. Winning and collecting trophies is always a wonderful experience in football, and the game's appeal continues to grow throughout the world.
14 • What does the future hold for Russian football and for Valeriy Gazzaev?
I think that the future of Russian football is bright and I see myself coming back to the national team one day -I would like to do something for my country. There is a boom in Russian football, with five new stadiums being built, and support coming from the government and the private sector. People now understand the role of football in our society, so we see growth, also at grassroots level. Many of the stadiums are full and the management around the clubs is improving. Our victory in the UEFA Cup even gave a boost to the activities of the football schools - the kids want to play and they know after our success that Russian clubs are capable of winning.
