«Krasnodar» is sensationally approaching the end of the first round in the Russian Premier League (RPL), taking first place. Before the match with the long-time national champion Zenit, one of the key players of the Bulls, Brazilian Kadi, spoke in an interview about how head coach Vladimir Ivich changed the team, assessed the possibility of holding a match between the national teams of Russia and Brazil, and also admitted that he struggled with fear before returning to the field after a serious injury received in the match against Spartak.
“It’s a pity to lose points, but it’s too early to despair”
— “Krasnodar” did not lose for almost the entire first round of the championship. How did the defeat to CSKA affect the team's self-confidence?
“Unfortunately, the defeat we tried so hard to avoid came.” The team did not come such a long way to lose, or even to draw. We came for victory. In principle, they were aware of the likelihood of defeat. It seems to me that after it I was able to remain calm and accept what happened.
— I agree that in the last 30 minutes CSKA delivered a “bus”?
— A certain simplification of their game could be noticed not only during the last half hour. Throughout the match, we noticed how they avoided getting out of the goal through a short pass — CSKA relied on long passes. This could also be understood by the fact that they operated with two central strikers. Naturally, the opponent knew that we wanted to impose our game, we tried to avoid pressure at the goal and brought the ball forward.
— There is a match ahead against a direct competitor — «Zenith». Is this a key moment in the fight for the championship?
— It’s still very early to talk about the championship. Not even half of the championship has passed, but, of course, the game will be very important for us. She can manifest much of what we will need in the future.
— What, for example?
— Since there will be a match against a team that is fighting for the championship, this may reveal something in our game that will make it possible to think about the title.
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—Krasnodar’s main motivation for the season is the championship?
— No team participates in the championship just like that. Everyone wants to win. I hope everyone on our team, not only on a personal level, but as a collective, is hungry for this. The desire for the title is the most important thing that can help in achieving the goal.
— Is it pressing that after losing points in Kaliningrad and Moscow, “Krasnodar” has practically no room for error? Any misfire threatens to result in a loss of the leading position?
— I don’t see any reason to worry, because this is football, defeats are always possible. I don’t notice any despair in the team either. There is still quite a lot of time ahead. It’s a pity to lose points, but it’s too early to despair.
“I chose football at the age of 13”
— How did you take your first steps in football?
— Started at the age of four. It's not hard to play football in Brazil because everyone plays it. If we talk about a more serious level, it started at the age of 13. I had to make a choice between going out with friends, especially on Friday, or going to bed because there was a match on Saturday morning. A serious approach to football began to take shape, a conscious choice was made.
— There is a stereotypical idea of Brazil — life in favelas, poverty. What was childhood like in everyday life?
— My city is not one of those that corresponds to stereotypes. There are very few favelas in Curitiba. Of course, the family had some financial difficulties — I couldn’t buy the clothes and boots I wanted, I couldn’t afford absolutely everything. But this was not as serious a problem as people might think when they imagine the life of Brazilians in favelas.
— Which of the guys with whom you grew up in the Coritiba academy made it to big football and became stars?
— Two or three players from those with whom we were in the academy are now playing at the professional level in Brazil. The most famous people I crossed paths with then were Ian Couto from Manchester City (this season the English club loaned the defender to the Spanish Girona — editor's note) and Olympic champion Matheus Cunha from Wolverhampton. They both play for the Brazilian national team.
— How did the World Cup, which took place almost 10 years ago, affect Brazil?
— It was real madness. The whole country has come to this state. The tournament influenced the level of stadiums in the country, as well as the understanding of the game from a tactical point of view. In the past, when very high level Brazilian players came to Europe, they did not understand some of the tactical aspects. After the World Cup, this element became more present in our football. We now better understand that football is not only dribbling and striking, but also tactics.
About the match Russia — Brazil
— What do you think , is it realistic to hold a match between the national teams of Brazil and Russia?
— It seems to me that this is possible. I don’t know about logistics, but I think nothing prevents this.
— There is an opinion that even if the main squad with Neymar and other stars does not arrive, it is possible to assemble a Brazilian national team from players playing in the RPL. Would you be interested in taking part in such a match?
— This would no longer be the Brazilian national team. But, if such an opportunity arises, then why not? I don’t see any problem in this.
«Our main rival is Rostov
— For almost a year in Krasnodar» did you have a club that became an irritant for you personally?
— Not yet.
— Which club is the most inconvenient opponent for Krasnodar?
— This season we haven’t played with everyone yet, but most likely it’s Rostov. Our main rival! It was before the match with him that I saw the spirit of special rivalry in the locker room.
— It turns out that matches with Rostov are “classico” for you?
— It seems to me, yes. You can say so.
strong>— “Krasnodar”, along with “Rostov” and “Fakel”, faced logistical difficulties due to the closure of the airport. Did you manage to adapt to such conditions?
— Before moving to Russia, there were no such long flights. Even in “Qarabag” in European cups there were no transfers that would take 10-12 hours. I encountered this for the first time here. Adapting to this was difficult.
— What do you do on the road?
— We mostly watch TV series, play cards.
— Which TV series can you recommend?< /strong>
—I think I’ve already watched everything that’s on Netflix. Recently I watched a series about David Beckham, in which he talks about his path in football and what he did off the field. It seems to me that such a series is very useful for football players — it tells a lot. I also watched documentaries about Manchester City and Arsenal.
— Does the lack of European Cups put pressure on you?
— It seems to me that no one on the team thinks about this. There is no pressure, because this is beyond the competence of the players and football in general.
— In your opinion, are the sanctions against Russian football by FIFA and UEFA fair?< br>
—I didn’t think about it.
— Your contract with Krasnodar runs until the summer of 2026. Do you believe that before it expires you will be able to play for Krasnodar in the Champions League?
— I don’t know. We need to concentrate more on the immediate events, on each next game. Every next match is important for me.
— Can you compare the Russian championship with the championships in which you played before?
— There is more contact wrestling in the Russian Championship. There is more tough play here, personal marking, the opponent is always trying to cover you. There football is more technical, there is more aggressiveness and toughness.
— What did you know about our championship and the country as a whole before moving from “Qarabag”?
— In the previous club there were several Russian players who told me about the physical aspect of the Russian Championship. At the same time, they said that Krasnodar’s game differs from other teams. That he is softer. Now, it seems to me that in this indicator we are not lagging behind other clubs.
— It turns out that Krasnodar has begun to play more athletic football, like other RPL teams?< br>
— Before this I was told that Krasnodar plays beautiful football with superior ball possession, but lacks aggressiveness. We have now reached the level of aggressiveness and athleticism that we have in the RPL, while maintaining possession.
— How do you look at the fact that the team in the last year has moved away from the style that was inherent in it since its founding — moved from combinational and adventurous football to more pragmatic one?
— We came here with a new coach and I haven't seen how the team played before. I just heard conversations. I arrived and began to perceive the methodology that Vladimir Ivich introduced.
This is how we play. I didn’t play in a different manner while in Krasnodar. I can’t say anything about the change in club philosophy. I believe that it is better to win than to play beautifully for 90 minutes.
— Before your move from Karabakh to Krasnodar, there was interest from other RPL clubs. Ready to tell you who exactly wanted to get you?
— There was interest not only from Russian clubs, but now this is no longer important. This is not a suitable topic for conversation.
— Krasnodar’s calling card is its students. Which teammates would you highlight?
— I really like Chernikov. It seems to me that an outstanding career awaits him.
“We are trying to win for the sake of Galitsky”
— “Krasnodar” would not exist without him «father» and president Sergei Galitsky. Did you communicate with him personally?
— Of course, he is almost always present at training. He lives these moments with us and tries to always be nearby. Naturally, we are grateful to him for everything that is in the club, for the fact that he creates the best opportunities for us. Without him none of this would have happened. We try to win, including for his sake personally.
— Three words that, in your opinion, can describe him?
— It’s difficult to find words to describe him (after a long pause).
— You and the head coach came to Krasnodar almost simultaneously. How did he seem to you when you met?
— My opinion about him has not changed at all during this time. From the moment he joined the club he shows that he is a very serious person. He wants to win. Nothing changes in this regard.
— How involved is he in the lives of his players off the field?
— It seems to me that he not particularly interested in what happens in the players' lives off the field. But we have thought out the logistics of the team’s travel and recreation very thoroughly. And so, I can say that Ivich shows himself as a very serious person and professional. He also demands professionalism from the players.
strong>—Trainers are usually divided into tacticians and motivators. What type is Vladimir Ivich?
— It seems to me that Ivich is one of the tactical coaches. It requires adherence to tactical plans, which are worked out in training.
— How, in your opinion, has the coach changed Krasnodar in almost a year? In what components has the team become stronger?
— If we talk about the beginning of the year, the coach took over the team in the middle of the championship. We can say that then some players left and others came. A new team has assembled.
When Ivich arrived, he showed what he would like. We can say that he managed to convey his thoughts, but on a more serious level, work continued in the summer before the start of the new season. When we returned from vacation, he continued to convey to us what he would like to see on the field. Now the fruits of this work are visible.
— There were rumors in the media that Vladimir Ivich could leave for Spartak. How did you react to such information?
—I only recently learned about these rumors. It seems to me that the decision depends entirely on him.
«Talking to a psychologist will not help get rid of fear»
— After the spring match with Spartak, all the fans were worried about you. How difficult was it to recover from that collision with Georgy Dzhikia?
“Recovery from such injuries is very difficult. It was also not easy for me. After the injury, everyone reacted differently — some said that I could lose my sight, and others said that I would not return to play. Thank God, in my case everything worked out.
During the recovery there was such a moment — I seemed to feel well physically, but I could not fully play. But in the end, after a difficult recovery, I feel 100%. Although there were pain sensations during recovery, and even now in some situations there is discomfort.
— Have you had to seek the help of a psychologist in order to overcome a mental barrier before entering the field and then not be afraid to go at the joints?
“I’ve had a psychologist for a long time. Depending on the condition, we talk once or twice a week. But in such a situation, talking to a psychologist or doctor will not help you get rid of the fear of going into martial arts. This goes away over time — only after several similar cases does the fear begin to disappear. Simple conversations will not help you regain confidence in your abilities in such situations if you encounter them during the game.
«There is no culture like in Russia anywhere»< br>—You’ve been in Russia for almost a year now. How does adaptation work?
— Quite calm. But the current cold weather is complicating everything, especially in Moscow. It’s not so cold in Krasnodar, but here, when we go out for training, the temperature is difficult to bear.
— How is learning the Russian language going?
— I know the most basic words: “Good morning”, “Good afternoon”, “Good night”… And so, learning is going slowly. I don’t study at an in-depth level — I just listen, ask something, remember something.
—What difficulties are there in everyday life? What do you miss most about Brazil?
— There is a Brazilian dish — feijoada. It includes beans, meat products and the like. Churrasco is also meat cooked over coals. There were no more questions or problems with anything.
— What Russian cuisine do you like best?
— Pancakes with cottage cheese.
— What words would you use to describe Russia?
— Cold (laughs). But this is a country with a culture that does not exist anywhere else.