Sandro Schwarz: The strongest squad will play against Orenburg

— We are looking forward to an interesting rivalry. Orenburg are a good opponent, which successfully play in the FNL, where they are currently at the top. We know that we are going to play on an artificial pitch. It is clear that we are the favorites in the upcoming encounter, but we need to play to the maximum to confirm our ambitions.

— Will the artificial pitch make this encounter tougher for Dynamo?

— Of course, it's unusual to play on such a pitch. On the other hand, we have already experienced the similar situation in Ufa and we managed to win. Therefore, I do not see any big trouble. We are ready for it. Our goal is to give our best in the Cup game.

— Are there any footballers at Dynamo who can't play on an artificial pitch?

— No, there are no such players. I can say that Diego Laxalt, Daniil Lesovoy, as well as Guillermo Varela, who got an injury against Khimki, will not play against Orenburg for sure. All other players are available and ready to play on an artificial pitch.

— How does the team feel physically? Did you have time to recover after Friday's match?

— After any victory, the recovery of the players goes much faster. And I'm talking not only about the physical conditions, but also the moral ones. We are very happy to achieve a nice blowout victory over Khimki on Friday. Now we are playing two matches in a week, and it is very important to properly distribute the loads among all players in order to bring them in optimal conditions to each of the games.

— Vyacheslav Grulyov came on as a left winger against Khimki, although before he played on the right wing. What was the reason for this move?

— When we talk about his attacking potential, Vyacheslav feels more comfortable playing on the right wing. Then, he has the opportunity to shift to the center and shoot by the left foot, which is convenient for him. In this case, he is more focused on finishing than on the left wing, from where he can deliver crosses into the penalty area. We asked him to be more aggressive in the penalty area in the game against Khimki, to penetrate more into it and open up. He played a high-quality match, fully justified our hopes and showed that he is on the right path of his development.

— Saba Sazonov came out as a centre-back at the end of the game against Spartak. Zaurbek Pliyev appeared as a left-back in the second half against Khimki. Does this mean that you are considering the players in these positions in the near future?

— Sazonov came out as the third centre-back against Spartak, because the opponent added pressure at the end. The number of crosses increased, and we needed a tall player who is good in tackles and aerial duels. Therefore, we made a choice in favor of Sazonov, whom we also consider as a holding midfielder. Zaurbek Pliyev’s main position is a centre-back. It is possible for him to switch to the left-back position. I can say only complimentary words about Pliyev – he shows himself perfectly in training, gives 100% of himself and even more, so he deserved the playing time.

— Can we expect a big rotation given the fact that there will be an important match in Saint Petersburg in a few days?

— There is no doubt that we keep in mind the game against Zenit on Friday. But at the same time, we are fully focused on the Russian Cup match in Orenburg. We don't have any idea to underestimate the opponent or mix up the line-up. The Cup game is very important for us, so the strongest squad will play.

— What impressions do you have of the Orenburg side after watching their matches? Can you mention any of the players or note any play features of this team?

— I probably won't mention any of the Orenburg players. I want to note them as a team in general. They look united and show good football. It is not surprising that Orenburg are among the leaders of the FNL. They try to play skillfully, show a high pass culture. Therefore, we will have to play carefully in defense on Tuesday.

— Can you say that they are already a Premier League team by the level of their play?

— It is difficult to compare, being focused solely on video recordings of the Orenburg play. It will be easier to answer this question after I see this team live. I repeat that at the moment I have the impression of a very high-quality team, against which it will be difficult to play.

— Orenburg have a Czech coach. Have you ever met any representatives of the Czech coaching school in your career? Have you seen any features of its football in the Orenburg’s style of play?

— We have collected information about Marcel Licka – he worked successfully in all teams he had coached. There was some experience in my career when I crossed paths with Czech coaches in friendly matches. But, to be honest, I did not analyze the play of Orenburg from this position. Marcel Licka's style of play is really present in the performance of this team, I can say that for sure.

— Orenburg, like Khimki, can not be called a comfortable opponent for Dynamo. The White-Blues won only the first match out of four official encounters, and in the last three matches, Dynamo never scored against this opponent.

— Thank you for the curious information. It means that the match against Orenburg becomes a new challenge and additional motivation to prove ourselves from the best side. If we talk about unsuccessful streak for the club, then, for example, I know that Dynamo could not beat Khimki since 2012. On Friday we broke this streak, and on Tuesday we will also do our best to correct the stat line against Orenburg.