"Zabolotny didn't even have an adaptation — he immediately joined the team"

Last weekend, a new draw for the Russian Football Championship in the Russian Premier League started. Spartak Moscow started the season with a minimal home victory over Dynamo Makhachkala (1-0). This game caused a mixed reaction from the public due to the work of the match referee Vasily Kazartsev, who did not count four red-and-white goals against the Dagestan club, and also did not give a penalty for playing with his hand in the penalty area, fixing a foul on a Spartak player.

The second half of this meeting was completely spent by the extreme defender Daniil Khlusevich, whose departure from Spartak was actively rumored during the offseason and at the end of last season. In an interview with Izvestia, the 24-year-old football player appreciated the game of his team, announced his intention to continue playing for the red and white and commented on the signing of striker Anton Zabolotny by the club.

— Is this the first time you've seen a referee not scoring four goals for your team in one match?

— Probably, this has never happened in my time at Spartak (smiles). But it happens. The main thing is that we have moments. And I think these goals will be counted in the next matches.

— Are there any complaints about the refereeing?

— I don't think we should criticize the judges. We won, and we had enough chances to score more goals. Unfortunately, it didn't work out, but it's more likely due to the fact that we played the first match of the season. Starter games are often like this. We're still getting into a rhythm, but I think we'll keep playing even better.

— How did Spartak change last offseason?

— In my opinion, the only problem we had in the spring was playing with a low block. With teams that defend with a low block. It is not easy to open such defenses, and we had difficulties with this. I hope it will be easier in the new season, and we will deal with such moments much better.

— In the spring, Dynamo Makhachkala beat you on your field (2:1) largely due to this low block. Now you have won, albeit with a small score, but with a lot of chances ahead. Is this an indicator that you have fixed the shortcomings of last season?

— I would like to believe that we have learned how to open such defenses.

— You did not join Spartak's main squad for most of last season. In this regard, what was the probability of your leaving the club this summer?

— These are questions for my agent. I am a football player of Spartak. I'm here now and I'm playing for Spartak. I am glad that I helped the team to win in the first round. Now I'm preparing for the next match.

— The only Spartak newcomer in the offseason is Anton Zabolotny. How was he received by the team?

— They were well received. As, however, we usually accept newcomers. We're counting on Anton. The club has signed an experienced Russian football player, whom basically everyone knows here. It was as if he didn't even have an adaptation — he immediately joined the team and is trying to help us.

— Zabolotny is the third former CSKA player to be signed by Spartak in recent years. Previously, there were Nikita Chernov and Jesus Medina. Is there still any special attitude towards this phenomenon within the club, or does the historical enmity with the army men not play a role in these cases?

— I think there is no such history between the players after all. Because football takes us on different paths. There can be anything in it, including a transfer from CSKA to Spartak directly or through other clubs. There is nothing new here.

— Does Spartak need more reinforcement besides Zabolotny?

— Spartak always claims the highest places. And with any team, we will play for victory in every match, fight for it with all our might.

— Does the fact that Zenit did not become a champion last season add to optimism about the chances of competing for gold? Can we say that Krasnodar, with its victory in the RPL, showed the other clubs the opportunity to move St. Petersburg from the top?

— We have always had such optimism. And it remains. In any case, we are determined to solve the highest tasks. We have very big ambitions.