Happy Lokomotiv Day!

FC Lokomotiv president Olga Smorodskaya has issued a statement marking the team’s victory in the Russian Cup 2014/15.

‘Lokomotiv have won the Russian Cup. It’s a great and happy cause for all of us, and a big holiday. The emotions are hard to put into words, they are so strong! Such moments are priceless. Everyone puts all their strength and soul into their job just to experience these moments. We have been advancing steadily to this very difficult victory, and we have won in a fair battle. I congratulate the team, it’s their victory, and all who supported them, who believed in us in the difficult times. It’s a historic event, and a significant achievement, another glorious chapter in the history of our club!

We deserved this victory! With our patience, work, and belief in our own strength. We have a team, we have a crew that are able to stand strong in difficult times, and break the run of play of the hardest match. Lokomotiv were stronger than the circumstances thanks to dedication, character, and skill.

We have gone a difficult way in this tournament. There have been a hard away game against Ufa, two victories in penalty shootouts, an annoying goal that we conceded yesterday… But now when the Cup is in our hands we are happy and are proud of this victory. The Premier League clubs are sending their congratulations. It’s very nice when your principal but respected opponents note your achievement.

We are thankful to the fans for their loyalty to the red-and-green colours, and for their support.

I want to address my warmest words to Igor Cherevchenko. Having found himself in a stressful situation he helped the team pull themselves together, and his role in this victory is of great importance. From now on, Mr Cherevchenko holds a unique record: as a player he won the Russian Cup several times, and now he won it as a coach. At the same time, I would like to point out that it was Miodrag Bozovic who brought Lokomotiv to the Final, and he contributed to the today’s triumph.

And of course I am proud of the team. I trusted in the guys, in their desire and ambitions. They deserved this victory!
Our achievements would have been impossible without the support of our main sponsor, JSC RZD. Once again, I congratulate everyone who made this success real. Happy Lokomotiv day!

Only Loko! Only victory!