Mikhail Marchel: «National team is not a bargaining chip!»

A large interview with the head coach of  national team Mikhail MARCHEL regarding the situation around friendly matches of Belarusians against national teams of Uzbekistan and Bulgaria

- Did you have to return from Turkey urgently?

- No, according to the plan. We watched good matches of BATE, Shakhtar and Tula Arsenal, because all clubs have many candidates for the national team. And then home, to prepare for the camp.

- The scandal broke out on Thursday. What are your first thoughts?

- It is a very big surprise, the most unpleasant is that this situation arose at the last moment, and it is doubly frustrating. After all, there were agreements, and with everyone. Problems were simply not expected. The national team’s preparation plan breaks down, it’s a fact. And yet, we do not lose hope that clubs will cooperate.

-  Have you been talking with someone from the representatives of the top three finishers in recent days?

- We talked with Kirill Alshevsky in Turkey. He set his vision exactly as BATE later reflected it on paper.

- Shakhtar was the first to refuse on February 7th. Was there the greatest resistance in Salihorsk initially?

- No. When we went to the first viewing camp in late January, we were in dialogue with all the interested clubs, located in Turkey. We also communicated with our "legionnaire's", for example, from Arsenal Tula. But in particular with Dynamo Brest, BATE and Shakhtar. We had absolutely no reasons to doubt then. We had a very good conversation with Yuri Vernidub, who said that he understood the situation and would not interfere the players. The only thing was that we had to agree with club's management. Although, in my opinion, everything should depend on the head coach in such situations. Turns out it doesn't. I don’t know who is responsible for their decision. However, after we had agreed on everything, the management of Shakhtar made such a decision - and, unfortunately, everything has changed.

- How did BATE behave?

- At the initial stage there was no friction either. The only question after the conversation with Alshevsky concerned the players - I had to explain to them why the training camp is so necessary. We talked with players, listened to their wishes, and the club management expressed their. As a result, I had to take the leading football players of BATE only for the match with Uzbekistan. Although we understood that then, after the first sparring, we'll have to let go some representatives of other clubs as well. We agreed on that to reciprocate their wishes. The initial agreements were somewhat different. All was only on handshakes. We did not even imagine that anything could happen.

- Dynamo Brest joined the demarche later than all.

- At first they did not create any obstacles, and Sergey Kovalchuk did not have any questions towards us. But when the events chain started, we internally prepared for this. It is clear, that when one club didn't let players go, then the other, a similar reaction from a competitive club is natural. Unfortunately, a letter of rejection came from Dynamo as well.

- Do you suppose that message that leaving to the national team would interfere with the pre-season work of the players came from the club management?

- In any case, I have no other explanation. There were no adamant objections about the February camp from coaches, as well as from the players. And if the players themselves say that there are no complaints against our coaching staff, then I see no other reason ... But we must understand that national team is not the team of Marhel and Kondratiev, it is a team of the country. Today we are the coaches, tomorrow someone else will replace us, but the team will remain. This is not a toy - with which you can play and then throw it away. This is a very serious responsibility for everyone.

- Did you contact the club patrons - Zaitsev, Kapsky, Golovatov?

- This is the prerogative of federation. On the other hand, if the coaches give admission, then we can be calm? I don’t remember any cases from my practice, that first I had to negotiate with them, and then also with the club owners. If they had told us right away that they wouldn’t let the players go, then we would either not carry a camp at all, or would made adjustments to the squad. But everything was going fine, problems appeared at the last moment - this is the worst thing.

- However, Alshevsky noted that he voted against this issue at the December meeting of executive committee.

- The only thing I heard - Kirill Petrovich expressed thoughts about the format. And no one spoke against the training camp itself at the executive committee. As well no one told: "We won’t let some players go", or "let’s figure out who you are going to invite". Everyone understood the situation and recognized that it was necessary. One can discuss as much as the want about when to conduct it. But we think the timing is optimal. These dates were chosen not to interfere in the special preparatory phase, when the coaches and teams are in the midst of winter grinding in all directions. And now the players have gained a certain form, conducted several sparrings - and for us it is also important to look at them. During the championship, changes are minimal, but the national team is also in the pre-season period. And, I believe, the camp dates were optimally selected.

- Can you explain in what aspects Alshevsky did not support the format of the camp?

- Probably, he meant flights or sparrings with the wrong opponents. Maybe the timing. But I will express my point of view. We need to play with national teams, and to find such teams at this time is difficult. To play in Turkey with a club? No, such match won't give a similar feeling of intensity, the spirit of the struggle, as a match against another national team. This is the most important effect. We imagine what we will face in Tbilisi - first of all, the psychological pressure. Players must be able to stand against it. And not only the experienced ones we rely on now, but also the young ones. In addition to games, it is very important to have three training days. There will be no more time. The dates of the game with the Georgians leave practically no chance for additional work on any component, for everything there are only two days in March. Plus, we agreed to a play against Uzbeks because they are very similar in style to Georgians.

- By the way, what are the motives for sparring of Uzbekistan national team?

- In March, they have a qualifying game with Yemen as part of the World Cup qualification, and they are looking for an opportunity to invite players from the national championship. They do not have a single legionnaire, but they consider the camp and the match necessary. The Bulgarians, as well as us and Georgians, have a playoff game (with the Hungarians). And they strive to give someone a chance, and there will also be players from the domestic championship. And the coach, when we talked, expressed great interest. It turns out that the Bulgarians can, the Uzbeks can, but we can't?

- Did you interest about the position of our other clubs in this regard?

- “Dynamo” Minsk and Sergey Gurenko did not and do not create any obstacles. And Vitaly Zhukovsky said: "Take Isloch football players if you wish - it is a great honor for our little club".

- If we ignore this unpleasant story, what are your relationships with Alshevsky, Vernidub, Kovalchuk?

- Good and smooth. We worked with Kirill Petrovich for a long time in the structure of the BFF academy, and there were no problems between us. I was pleasantly surprised by the words of Yuri Nikolaevich - a person who came from a neighboring friendly state understands everything and is in our position. And with Sergei Petrovich, whom I have known for a long time including a period of work in “Dynamo” Brest, we are on friendly terms.

- Of the legionnaires you called only Korzun. Did you try to send requests to the clubs where our players are - to Russia, Kazakhstan?

- Yes. Unfortunately, everyone refused. Although we understood: it will be difficult to do this. Nevertheless, our advantage over Georgia is that Belarus national team has many representatives in domestic championship. Georgians do not have such an opportunity, so now they do not conduct a sparring. This is the trump card of the February camp, and it’s silly not to use it. We need it from all points of view! Although if we knew that such resistance would arise, we would think about options: maybe one game, or young players to see... But there were no objections from anybody at once. On the contrary, everyone expressed only words of support. And the calendar was compiled with this in mind. By the way, at the suggestion of BATE, the first round was made on March 19-22. We went towards everyone, and always do so when there is an opportunity. Carry out a starting tour before the knockout round for the European Championships - and thereby free up space on the calendar so that later our Eurocup participants have more time to prepare for matches on the international stage

- What are the reasons for the protest of clubs?

- Perhaps it is better to ask them. I don’t want to build speculation. But the language that sounds in the rejection letters leaves an unpleasant aftertaste.

- Which ones specifically?

- Skavysh - in connection with the personnel deficit of forwards. Nekhaychik - due to the need to adapt to the new team. Stasevich - in connection with an injury at the first training camp and a part of the program of training sessions that was missed because of this. Although Igor spent 70 minutes in a recent game with Dynamo Kyiv. Dragun - due to the need to adapt to the requirements of the new head coach. Well, we are all adults ... Or, the Brest “Dynamo” proposed to abolish the camp, and send the money to the development of children's football. The national team cannot be a bargaining chip: it is a face of a country that cannot be sacrificed for the sake of other interests, albeit also important. We need guys for eight days, and taking into account the rotation of the composition between two matches - three to four. And how do we harm them so much? Are we going to make them run with stones? Initially, meetings with Uzbekistan and Bulgaria were seen as rehearsals in front of Georgia. Then, when the failures began to arrive, we had to change the strategy. Although sparring with Uzbekistan remains key: initially we focused on it. And with the Bulgarians we’ll take a look at the future. If you declared the goal of rejuvenating the team, then you need to take the opportunity to see firsthand who you can count on in six months or a year. In this sense, the game in Sofia is also very important.

- When talking with players, didn’t you see a hint that they themselves are not eager to go to the training camp?

- No one said that, they do not want to go, and I believe their words. I think we have good contact with guys. We all need to understand how important it is to unite and reach a common goaal - personal things should go by the wayside.

- Martynovich was traumatized in sparring with the Norwegian “Molde” , an injury to the muscles of the back of the thigh. Did you find out how serious everything is?

- Yes. Today there should be an examination and a final verdict. A preliminary? Seven weeks ... Gutor and Chichkan also fell. That's why camp is so important: so that we can vary the situation and understand who to rely on in the event of force majeure. It is clear that there is a risk of injury in the national team, but there is one in clubs - such is life. It can happen at any moment.

- What about goalkeepers?

“Gutor has back problems.” The national team doctor also examined Sasha, so far no specific forecasts. And Chichkan dropped out for at least two weeks. And Plotnikov “broke”. Here's the situation for you: three goalkeepers out of the game, and in the end we are preparing Pavlyuchenko and Hatkevich for these two matches.

- Martynovich’s bond with Naumov in the center of defense for the match with the Georgians broke. Now what?

- Thats why, we planned to take Polytevich from Shakhtar for the entire training camp, he looks good and, hopefully, can help us in Tbilisi. Right now his role in defense is important. Nikita Naumov can't come from Zhetysu. Well, at least for one time with the Bulgarians Sergey will be paired with one of the younger - Pavlovets, Shvetsov ... Moreover, here we also need to decide who will mainly support Politevich and Naumov.

- You rely on Lisakovich again.

- Yes. He went to a view one club, but something did not grow together. I don’t know the nuances. We hope, matches of the national team will help him conclude a contract with new team.

- How do you look at the future of Shkurin in the national team?

- We are counting on him. Communicated with Goncharenko, reviews from Viktor Mikhailovich are good. We wanted to call Shkurin, but we assume that there was no chance for this for the reasons already voiced. May God grant him to play in CSKA or to be there at least “under the foundation”. We met with Ilya, talked and came to an understanding.

- In your opinion, the scandal with club greatly undermines the chances of success in the playoffs?

- All this is very unpleasant, and there is a sediment. I never thought that this could happen. But no matter how the situation develops, we will not give up and will go to our goal till end.

Text: Vladimir Pirog, Pressball