Midfielder Ilya Kukharchuk told RB Sport that he parted ways with Torpedo on a good note, and also noted that he would like to stay in the Premier League.

Kukharchuk, by mutual agreement of the parties, terminated the contract with Torpedo.

– It was a mutual decision, we sat down, talked, discussed the situation and came to a common denominator – it will be better for everyone, – says Kukharchuk. “Still, I really want to stay in the Premier League. But we parted well, remained on good terms with the club. I believe that Torpedo should play in the Premier League and wish only good luck and success.

— How did you work under the guidance of Pep Clotet? There are conflicting reviews about it.

– I will say this – until the end of the understanding, I never had what kind of person Clotet is, what kind of coach. One thing is for sure – this is a person with a different mentality. Ahead he has fees to build a team for himself.

– With a different mentality – what do you mean?

– With some he kept aloof, with some not. I only had a working relationship as a player-coach. We only had one conversation with him, and that was on my initiative – I wanted to understand why I didn’t go to the match with Rostov. We didn’t talk to him anymore. I kept order.

Did you smile in training?

— Smiled. But as? Of course, there was no such thing that you walk around smiling every day, but it happens that in the work process you smile or laugh. This is fine.

– What are the main reasons for the departure of “Torpedo”?

– The main moments are defeats in the last eight rounds. Why this happened is not my question. Each of the players, including me, conscientiously and to the maximum carried out the instructions of the coach. What went wrong needs to be analyzed in detail, it will take a lot of time. And sitting now telling what went wrong is not my prerogative.

– Were there any problems with the atmosphere in the team?

— The atmosphere was working, good. Everyone needs to dig inside themselves. I did not feel nervousness, although it may have manifested itself somewhere on the field.

– Do you agree with the opinion that Torpedo was not initially ready for the RPL?

Perhaps, yes, I can agree with that. I will not judge strictly, but there is no stadium, no base. This, of course, is a big omission.

– “Torpedo” was the weakest club in the RPL for the season? Or is it Khimki?

– I will not say that Torpedo was the weakest club. And I won’t say the same about Khimki. I see no reason to belittle anyone. Everyone I’ve trained with is a professional football player. Torpedo and Khimki players are Premier League players in terms of their individual qualities. But an important factor is psychology, and this is sometimes not good. Hence, not the most successful result for Torpedo.

– Are there any offers from other clubs?

– So far, there is no specifics, but we just canceled the contract today. Clean slate, didn’t talk to anyone. Now the work will be done. Of course, I would like to stay in the RPL.

Kukharchuk, 32, spent the first part of the 2022/23 season at Khimki. In total, in the season ended, he played 20 matches, scored three goals and gave two assists.

At the end of the season, Torpedo took the last, 16th place in the WORLD RPL.