Sandro Schwarz: The team are in optimal shape

— Sandro, what are your expectations from the upcoming match?

— Tomorrow we will have a home derby, and we expect a very intense and tough game. Lokomotiv are strong in counterattacks, so we need to play tight in defense, keep pace throughout the match and show our football in front of our fans.

— How Lokomotiv have changed compared to the previous season? And who are you afraid of the most in this team?

— There are changes: this year, Lokomotiv play 4-4-2 formation, whereas last year they used a diamond. They were especially strong in counterattacks against Krasnodar. Lokomotiv have a lot of skilled and technical players. We need to tackle as quickly as possible when losing the ball, to play tight and disciplined in defense.

— Dynamo are on top in the championship having 4 victories, but the goal difference is only +4. Why?

— We could have scored more in several matches. We also conceded quite simple goals. But it is worth noting that Dynamo take the second place in table in terms of goals scored. Of course, we have to work on defense and on finishing, which is what we do in training.

— Have you ever coached a team that were leading in the championship?

— I have already had such an experience. I coached three teams that were at the top of the table. But we do not focus on it.

— This training week turned out to be shorter. Did you manage to do all the necessary work?

— I don't see any problem. We had a recovery session on Sunday, Monday was a day off, and starting from Tuesday we have been preparing for the derby. According to the last round, we can conclude that the team are in optimal shape. We ran 118 kilometers. The physical shape will be a very important factor in the upcoming game.

— Do you discuss the individual mistakes of players after the matches?

— We hold theoretical sessions for the team during which we analyze actions both in defense and in attack. In addition, we have individual theories. Here I must pay tribute to the competent work of our coaching staff. We show the players episodes that they should pay attention to. We also focus on positive moments, where they played well. We do it after every match.

— The international break approaches. How much can it affect the team?

— We are satisfied with the progress that the team made over these five rounds. Of course, we do not stop there, we work every day and try to improve all the game aspects. The match against Lokomotiv is a certain challenge for us. We will need to give one hundred percent and show our football. International breaks happen every year, so there is nothing new in it. The players who are not called up to the national teams will get a certain program. We also scheduled a friendly game during the break.

— Who is not available for the match against Lokomotiv, excluding Lesovoy?

— Only Daniil will not be able to play in tomorrow's match.

— There was information that Dynamo stands for the abolition of the foreign players’ limit. Do you support the club's position on this case?

— We need to take this case seriously. There is no one correct opinion in such cases. We need to make a decision that will allow keeping competition in the clubs, so that both young players could develop their skills and foreign footballers could show their best qualities. The truth is somewhere in the middle. You can't constantly change the rules, you need to choose some strategy and stick to it. Russian football has great potential.

— You trust young players much. Vladislav Galkin is now showing himself perfectly in matches for Dynamo-2. Why haven't you given him a chance to make his debut in the Premier League yet?

— I trust all my players. I would also mention Gladyshev, who played very well in the last encounter for Dynamo-2. Young players need to give their best in training, and we need to be patient. Sooner or later, they will get their chance. Every week, the coaching staff makes a decision about who will come out on the pitch. We don't look at the passport. The main thing is players’ condition and their work during the training week cycle.

— Anton Shunin can play the 300th match for Dynamo against Lokomotiv. Do you know it? Does this situation put any additional pressure on him?

— Our press service always tells me, and after the match against Ural, I was informed that it was Anton's 299th game for the club. Shunin doesn’t think much about it. He is a great professional and is responsibly preparing for this game. We are convinced that he will be fully focused on his performance. 300 matches is a long way, which not everyone can go through. This is a well-deserved achievement of Anton. He always gives himself to his work.

— Denis Makarov was not included in the final squad of the Russian national team for September qualifying matches. How did he react to it?

— We didn't talk to him about it. This week we held an individual theory for him and drew attention to his defensive actions in the match against Ural.

— Dynamo have a lot of technically gifted players who can shoot from a free kick, but so far they couldn’t score. How do you train this aspect? And what do you think about unusual corner kicks?

— We always have 3-4 different options for executing set pieces. We always focus on it and work on it in each training cycle. As for efficiency, we can recall the second goal against Rostov, which was scored after a corner kick. Ivan Ordets hit the crossbar with a header against Ural.

— The first of September is coming soon. Tell us where your children will study — in Moscow or in Germany?

— My children are now in Moscow, they attended the opening of our fan shop, where they got into the Dynamo spirit. It is important for me that my family feels comfortable here.

— Three Dynamo players have been called up to the Russian national team, which will play against Croatia. Nikola Moro will join the Croatian team. Are you planning to attend this match?

— Yes, I have such plans.

Today's press conference ended with a fire alarm.

— When a very popular and hot question about possible transfers was asked, the fire alarm system could not stand it. Everything is fine, nothing is burning and no one is being evacuated. The preparation for the encounter against Lokomotiv continues in usual way — the club's press officer Igor Yershov explained.