“Kenyans have the highest level of stamina and performance” – Ignatiev

Former coach of the Russian national team Boris Ignatiev, before the friendly match of the Russian national team against the Kenyan team, noted the endurance and performance of Kenyan football players.

On October 12, Valery Karpin’s team won a friendly game with the Cameroon team. The meeting in Moscow ended with the score 1:0, Fedor Chalov scored a goal in the 40th minute. The friendly match against Kenya will take place in Antalya on Monday and will start at 19:00 Moscow time.

— What will we see in the match with Kenya performed by the Russian team?

“It’s impossible to imagine that our result in the match with Kenya will be worse.” Our team received a lot of positive emotions, showing a good game (against Cameroon). The Russian team will do everything possible to achieve victory again and satisfy the fans with their performance. It is important to understand that our team represents something. I think the guys liked the feedback that came after Cameroon. They had to feel that they could do a lot. So the same dynamic match awaits us, and the guys will try to show their skills again. I think we will achieve victory.

— The composition of the Russian national team will change a lot, what do you think?

— The core of the team must be preserved so as not to lose the structure of the game. Well, we need to give the opportunity to play to those who are part of the main roster. There will be rotation, but not so much as to move away from the pattern that was found.

— Goalkeeper coach Kafanov said that Safonov will not play in the match with Kenya. Is this the right decision, or should I have decided on the first number and played it?

– There is no need to play tricks on anyone. It is clear that Kenya will not attack as much as Cameroon. We need to decide who is the second goalkeeper of the national team and who is the third. The first number is clear – this is Safonov. And the other two goalkeepers must play a half each.

— Will it be more interesting for you to watch a game with the Kenyans than, for example, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, or are these opponents of approximately the same level?

— The level is approximately the same. Kenyans are not up to par in terms of gaming skills, but they have the highest level of endurance and performance.

— After the Asian direction, the team switched to the African direction. How do you like this practice?

— I liked that we played in the previous match against a strong team. But I don’t think there is a choice now. Whoever agreed, we play with him. Perhaps next time we will play with teams from Asia again,” Euro-Futbol.Ru quotes Ignatiev.

Watch the live broadcast of the Russia – Kenya match from 18:40 (Moscow time) on the Match TV channel, websites matchtv.ru and sportbox.ru.