“Back in the summer, at a meeting with fans, I said that I don’t promise a cup, but I promise that there will be no strangers, indifferent people in the team. But between these phrases he said that we will do everything to win the Gagarin Cup and bring it to Magnitogorsk. Nobody remembers this. We did it,” said the head coach of Metallurg after returning to Magnitogorsk.
Andrei Razin noted that the season for Magnitogorsk developed differently.
“We had problems, we had five defeats in a row. The team rallied at that moment and overcame the situation. I remember the game with Barys, when we arrived at six in the morning, the next game was 12 hours later. The guys got together and pulled out that match. It was a difficult moment. And then things went on as usual, although there were ups and downs. But there was a single team, the backbone was visible. The guys fought for each other. The same Silantiev and Kantserov did not take leading positions from the first playoff games. And those who were supposed to take leading roles went into the shadows, but worked to the fullest. Although Karpov and Akolzin played in the fourth line, they played an important role,” said Andrei Razin.
He admitted that victory as a coach is experienced much more strongly than as a player. At the same time, the head coach noted that the entire team was purposefully moving towards winning the Gagarin Cup: players, coaching staff, club management, technical staff.
“I have already said a hundred times that I purposefully did not release young players. I only released those who were currently the strongest in the team. They played.”
Andrei Vladimirovich also shared who he dedicates the victory in the Gagarin Cup to.
“I think that men dedicate all their victories to their women. I’m not an exception. My wife said she believes in me and has already bought a dress. She said that she would wear it when I was awarded as the best coach. I did everything for this. I hope that I will be chosen as the best coach this season, and my wife and I will go to the awards ceremony. Is the dress beautiful? I haven’t seen him yet,” admitted the Metallurg head coach with a smile.
Andrei Razin reminded that climbing to the top is only half the battle, because you also need to stay there.
“I think the next season will be very difficult: both in terms of coaching and in terms of players. It will be necessary to add a little fresh blood,” Andrei Vladimirovich summed up.
