KARPIN: DERBY IS VERY IMPORTANT

Despite goalless draw against Krylya Sovetov Spartak manager Valeriy Karpin is sure that his team will be perfectly ready for the Sunday derby against CSKA.


"Our opponents’ goalkeeper has been voted the best player of our games for several times. When a goalkeeper is voted the best, it tells us that his partners, mainly defenders, cope with their duties", Karpin said. "It also says that the opposite team creates a lot of scoring opportunities, but strikers cannot convert them".

"This match is the same story like in our match with Rubin. As for the game I think everything was more or less normal. It’s clear that you always have something to improve, but what is more important is that we are on the right way".

"Spartak proved that we can play well without Alex and Welliton and it’s really positive moment, but we will need time to make overall conclusion. This fact says that Spartak is a real team, but not separate talents, who don’t understand each other".

"We lacked our best players, however our performance didn’t become worse. We didn’t play worse in absence of Alex and Welliton and it makes us happy".

"Maidana played one of his best matches and proved that he can play on high level and possesses serious potential. He has all qualities to become top-level player and he can do almost everything".

"His main problem is psychology. We talked to him for a long time and I hope he understood what the team is waiting from him".

"Earning three points is important, but derby is even more significant. Everybody understands importance of the coming match with CSKA. Nothing could be comparable to victory over Army men".

Sport Express