"I am sure that we will solve the problem of entering the RPL"

A year ago, the Yekaterinburg Ural football players unexpectedly dropped out of the RPL. Now they're trying to get back into the elite. On the eve of the 29th round of the Russian championship in the first league, the team was in third place, giving the right to play in transitional matches. But if the club wins away from Torpedo Moscow on April 21, it will displace it from second place and will be in the direct entry zone to the RPL five rounds before the finish. To solve the problem, Ural acquired striker Evgeny Markov from the elite of the Voronezh Fakel in the winter. Together with him, the team made a lot of noise in the Russian Cup, reaching the first stage of the semi-finals of the Path of the Regions, from where they flew out only last week, losing to Spartak Moscow (0:3).

In an interview with Izvestia, Markov appreciated the atmosphere at Spartak's home arena, commented on Fakel's difficult position in the RPL, assessed Ural's chances of returning to the elite, and spoke about working under the leadership of 34-year-old Oleg Shatov, the young acting head coach of the Yekaterinburg team, who retired from football less than two years ago.

— Were there any chances to catch on to the match with Spartak and try to go further in the Russian Cup?

— There are always chances. But we conceded an optional quick goal from Spartak after our mistake. And then they began to open up and missed more. I think if it hadn't been for the quick goal, the game might have turned out differently.

— In the spring, Ural played on two fronts. Was the Cup a secondary competition for you, given that the fight for entry into the RPL is in full swing?

— No, there was no distribution of importance. Playing in a stadium like Spartak's, when its fans finally came to the match, is a completely different atmosphere. It feels like you're playing in the Champions League. And in such an atmosphere, we want to prove ourselves as best we can — that alone made us want to win the Cup. So we definitely didn't put this tournament below the first league.

I hope that there will always be an atmosphere like at Spartak's home stadium. It doesn't matter who the stands are rooting for, your team or the opponent — with such a large number of spectators, you always want to play.

— You recently played for Fakel in Voronezh with full stands. Or is the atmosphere different from what it was at Spartak?

— Voronezh has a great atmosphere too. That's what I'm saying, there should be an atmosphere like at Spartak and Fakel at all Premier League matches. Then our football will grow very seriously.

— Are there any difficulties with the atmosphere at Ural's home matches in the first league in Yekaterinburg?

— It's a little hard so far. But I hope that now people will also start coming to us in connection with the results of the team. Yekaterinburg also has very good fans, but we want to see even more of them.

— Can we say that the next away match against Torpedo is a key one for Ural in this championship in the first league?

— Of course, this is one of the most important matches of the season. We need to beat Torpedo, because victory gives us the opportunity to rise to second place, to the direct entry zone in the RPL. The opponent is not easy, but we will do everything to defeat him.

— How did you adapt to your new team?

— great. The only problem is that we can't score yet. But I'm sure I'll be able to do it over time.

— It is believed that Ural is financially superior to Fakel, but Voronezh is still in the RPL, and you have agreed to be demoted to the first league for at least six months. In your opinion, is the game worth the candle?

— We'll see at the end of the season. Of course, it was a difficult decision to make. But Ural is a big club. In principle, I am confident that we will solve the problem of entering the RPL.

— Are you following the Torch, which is currently in last place in the RPL?

— Of course, I keep an eye on Fakel and communicate with the guys at the club. They're in a difficult situation right now. But I think there are still chances to escape from relegation from the RPL. I hope they can get out.

— At the expense of what? In the last two seasons, five rounds before the finish, was Fakel still not in last place, but higher, and that's why it was saved?

— Yes, due to the same thing as in the past. The fight, the fans, the passion, the desire.

They are in charge of the Cup: six teams will continue to fight for the trophy

Zenit, Spartak, Lokomotiv, CSKA, Dynamo and Rostov advanced to the next stage.

— What is it like for you to play in Ural under the guidance of Oleg Shatov, who is only four years older than you? Has he already gotten used to being a coach?

— I've known Oleg Alexandrovich for a long time. Since I was 16 years old. He has changed a lot since becoming a coach. His consciousness, the way he talks to the guys, the way he leads the team, the atmosphere he creates in the team — it's expensive. He has a great future as a coach.

— How does he talk to the team?

— Everyone understands that this is not a recent teammate, but a head coach. Everyone is insubordinate. Nevertheless, Shatov is still close to the team, trusts everyone and gives everyone a chance to prove themselves.

— Do you call him Oleg Alexandrovich or just Oleg?

— Of course, Oleg Alexandrovich.

— Do you easily restrain yourself from calling just by name?

— I don't even restrain myself — I just calmly call him by his first name and patronymic. There must be subordination.

— If Ural joins the Russian Premier League at the end of this season, will it be able to solve serious problems there with the current squad and coaching staff?

— It depends on what you mean by solving serious problems.

— To stay in the RPL without transitional matches, that is, to take a place at least 12th - let's start with that.

— We can solve this task 100% in the current composition. You don't even need any reinforcement.

— And if we fight for medals?

— Here, of course, we need to strengthen. Moreover, such an enhancement is necessary (laughs).