Nikolic: We showed that we remain as a team

Marko Nikolic reflects on the game against Rubin (2:0) in Gameweek 1 of the Russian Premier League.

- I would like to congratulate the team and fans who came to Kazan on the victory. Today we did not have a few important players. At the end of the game we brought on a lot of young players. In the first half, we controlled the game and scored two goals. In the second, we should have played better when Rubin was down to ten men.

- Do you agree that Rybchinskiy was the best player of the match?

- I do not comment on individual performances. I only comment on the team’s performance. One day the goalkeeper may be the best, on the other - the striker, on the third - the midfielder. But Dima played well, and we will give him more chances. He also had a good game against Rubin a month ago.

- Ageev and Iosifov made their debut today.

- They did well in trainings and deserved to come on the pitch.

- Leonid Slutsky criticized the refereeing. Are you satisfied with the referee?

- I'm surprised that the media talks about referees and scandals every day. The most important thing in football is players, fans, coaches and clubs. Let's talk more about this.I watched the replay and it's not a penalty, but a yellow card to a player for kicking the goalkeeper. But the referee is also human and could also make mistakes. Sometimes he could benefit one team, sometimes the other. I believe that it is necessary to organize a meeting where the referees will explain to the players and coaches how the VAR works, why the referee can show a certain card, and so on.

- Does the fact that you brought on Magkeev and Ignatjev mean that you have forgiven them after the Sunday news?

- They remained on the bench not for this reason. The last few days have been turbulent for us. It was important for us to show that we remain as a team. And we did it.

- In the changing room, the players did not really celebrate the victory. This was due to fatigue or the victory over Rubin was taken for granted?

- Rubin is a good team. We are here for the second time in a month and I can see that the club is well organized. Rubin has a good coach and interesting players, a beautiful stadium and a wonderful atmosphere. I think they will do well this season. But we have a new game in three days, so no need for euphoria. We are concentrating on the game against Krasnodar.