Nikolic: We will start preparations for the new season on July 28

Lokomotiv’s head coach Marco Nikolic reflects on the last game of the season against Ural (1-0) and talks about the plans for the future.

- Today there were eight academy graduates in the starting line up, including the young Suleymanov and Rybchinskiy. Are you satisfied with their game?

- First of all, I would like to congratulate the team with the victory. I am happy that eight and then 11 academy graduates entered the field. The game turned out to be not as good as it could be. But we scored a goal at the right time, at the end of the first half. In the second half, we did not play very well, but then we began to create chances near Ural’s goal. The opponent also had his chances. I'm glad we won and finished the season on a high note.

- The new season will start very soon. What are the plans of the team in the near future?

- We already have a plan. There will be five days off, and on July 28th we will begin preparations. We will stay in Moscow and play two friendly matches - one of them against Kazanka. With regards to second opponent we have to see the calendar first. There is not much time.

- Why many key players weren’t part of the squad today?

- I wanted to have a look at young players and give experienced guys a rest in order to avoid injuries. They played seven matches in a short period of time. Everything worked out - we got the three points, young players on the pitch, and everyone is healthy.

- Have you already made a decision on the contract extension with certain players?

- Yes, I have a lot of ideas. We will have a lot of work and little time. Someone's contracts are expiring, so we need new players, as well as we need to take into account the new limit with eight foreign players in the squad. But this is our inner work, not for the media. When the players are back here, then it will become clear what we did.

- After the break, Lokomotiv demonstrated the second result in the league in terms of points. Are you satisfied?

- I am satisfied. We did not suffer a single defeat and got a direct place in the Champions League group stage. But I'm not happy with the way the team played. We didn't have much time - only about a week passed between the first training session I had with the team and the first match.

- What can you say about Miranchuk’s sending off?

- This is the last match of a difficult season. I think there was no reason to give him a second yellow card.