Mikhail Markhel: «We need to be positive and think about a win rather than consider loosing»

Belarus national team head coach answered the questions of the media ahead of the upcoming matches vs Estonia and Wales.

- How do feel? What are your expectations of the upcoming matches?

- We are set for the test. It is a little bit worrying  but I think that it should be this way. We are looking forward to the upcoming matchs. I would really like my first games to be successful.

- Why was the final call-ups list published so late — only on Monsay?

- That is more of a coincidence. This is the way the sport life goes. After yesterday's match it is questionable whether Bakhar can play. He is going to go through additional mediacal tests and after the MRT we will have the answer. It seems that there is nothing serious but we want to be sure. As far as the absence of Laptev is concerned... He called this morning and he has serious family problems. I will not be the one to make them public but I believe his words and I think it is very serious. This is why he was replaced. 

- If we talk about young goalkeepers, you chose Plotnikov and not Chichkan. Why?

- It is our joint decision with Sulima. We think that Maksim deserved the call-up with his game. I think that we should give the younger players a chance.

- Six BATE Borisov players have be called up. Last week was quite difficult - a losses in the UEFA Europa League and vs FC Minsk. Are you afraid that this might have a negative effect on the national team?

- I believe in their proffessionalism. It is clear that the background isnt the best but they are professionals. Maybe the national team will help them forget what happened. I will have personal talks as well. The players are experienced  and should cope with the pressure. There shouldnt be any problems.

- All Belarusian clubs were relegated from the European competitions. Is it good or bad for the national team?

- On the one hand it is a good thing as the players will have an easier calendar, on the other hand it is a bad thing for our football in general. Every player had an aim to play in the European club competitions and for the national team. As a coach I can say that it is a pity they are out of the tournamnets. But as I have alreafy said it means less matches which in a long season can be a plus.

- Kendysh, Sivakov, Shikavka were not called up. Why?

-  This position is quite competitive. They are still candidates for the national team and the doors are not closed but we made a different chocie  for the upcoming fixtures.

- Filipenko announced retirement from the national team. Are you sad about it?

- I havent spoken with him and found out from the media. Maybe Yegor will change his mind. I dont know what the reasons were. I think that a player of such level is an asset for the national team but at the moment he is injured so we can not consider it. It is a topic for the future.

- What do you think about Korzun's move to Portugal's second division? 

- The second division in Portugal is not the worst level. It all depends on circumstances. It is hard for me to say: what is the level of the team, what are the goals. If he plays well – he will also be on the list. He needs to play first of all. We will follow him attentively – Unfortunately not all our players can adapt easily.

- Captain Aleksandr Martynovich is injured. His functions will be given to Stasevich?

- I think so.

- Will the players vote?

- I think we can manage without a vote.

- Shvetsov is not on the list due to injury?

- Yes. We planned to call him up but the verdict of the Doctors is not good and he needs more time for recovery. He really wanted to play and I wanted him to be part of the team as I have known him for a long time now and he is showing a solid game for his club.

- What result are you counting on in the upcoming match against Estonia?

- We will always be aiming for victory. It has been a long time since the national team won and the people are really waiting for a good result. We will obviously try to win.

- We played against Estonia three times and all were unsuccessful. Why do think it will work this time?

- Bad streaks end at some point. We will hope that this one ends on September 6th.

– What are our strengths?

– I think we are not weaker in terms of the squad. I think we both want to stop the looing streaks. It is a crucial game for both teams. It is na official game and this means we need to win.

– If we lose against Estonia can you say that our football has dropped it's level below all expectations or is the potential result not so important?

– Every official game is a serious result. There is no dount about this. But there is no point in considering a loss in Estonia at the moment. Football is life and anything can happen but I would rather not discuss what will happen if we lose . I think that it is not a correct time to speak about this. We need to be focused an aim for victory rather than consider losing. 

- It is a short training camp before the match against Estonia. Will the team play in the upcoming fixtures differ from what we have seen before when Igor Kriushenko was head coach? What will you focus on emotions or will you change the tactical system or perhaps something else? 

- There are only small corrections. We will try to use a certaing tactical system off course. There are no critical changes but obviously we will not play vs Estonia in the same manner as we did vs Germany. We will take a closer look at the players condition. We will do our best to use the maximum from the time and players that we have.

- What opponents correspond to Estonia's game, those which we faced in the UEFA Nations League?

- Estonia is quite a solid and good opponent. Everyone has bad days like their game against Germany. But it doesnt mean we should consider them as a tough opponent. A that is not what is going to happen. We should prepare for the match thoroughly.

- We scored 1 goal in 4 matches this year. What can we do with this?

- That is a problem. We need to score. There is no other way. It is a pity that Deins Laptev is not with us. I am a forward myself and I had this feeling that Denis should finaly put his name on the scoresheet for the national team. Well, we will have to use our attacking midfielders. We will find a way to replace Denis.

- Maksim Volodko has not been playing for his club for a while now. Have you spoken with him?

- We discussed this situation. It is very difficult without playing practive. We have several prpoblematic postitions. I mean the left and right backs. We need better players on these positions. I really hopoed Maksim would play or at least go on from the bench. But it is very difficult to be without regular playing practice that is why we called up other players. I supporterd Maks though. I said that he cannot let go and that every player faces such difficult moments from time to time. The question is how the player copes with this moment. 

- Andrei Klimovich made his debut for «Orenburg». How can you comment on his game? Is he currently the number one goalkeeper of the national team?

- I spoke with Sulima before his transfer and we count on all three of our goalkeepers Klimovich, Gutor and Plotnikov equaly. There was no discussion regarding a one hundred percent number one goalkeeper but I think our goalkeeper already has certain thoughts. Today we will discuss once again. The goalkeepers should be up and ready for the match.

- We have information that Kazakh «Dinamo-Brest» player Vasiliev will be issued a Belarusian passport. In the reserve team of «Borussia» Dortmund there is a goalkeeper Lucien Gavriliuk who also has belarusian family. He has recently claimed that he considered playing for the Belarusian national team if he is called up. Have you spoken with him?

- No. I had such situations with the youth teams when a passport was promised but in the end things did not work out. As a coach I can only consider the players that can play for the national team. As this issue is not solved there is no topic for discussion. We simply do not know when and who will get the permission.