Slavisa Jokanovic: Smolov is a very important player for Dynamo and Russian football as a whole

# Slavisa Jokanovic

Dynamo head coach Slavisa Jokanovic answered journalists' questions after the derby with Lokomotiv (3:1).

— I am satisfied with team’s actions today. We pressed well, played aggressively and showed character after an early conceded goal. It took us some time to come back, but then we played in a high-quality way demonstrating good speed, energy and devotion to win.

— The team conceded an early goal. Something like this happened at Sochi. Is there any tendency when Dynamo players lose concentration at the beginning of the match?

— It's hard to say why we conceded so quickly, but this is football. Sometimes you score at the last minute, sometimes you concede on the first one. Lokomotiv player executed a great cross and the forward finished it. After that episode we played well for more than 90 minutes. I am satisfied with my team’s reaction.

— Dynamo score three goals in the third consecutive match. Are you satisfied with your attacking group?

— Today I have to mention the performance of the whole team without exception. It’s not only about goals. Our footballers pressed the opponent in different parts of the pitch and reacted well when losing the ball. Goals show the work of the whole team. Certainly, I am satisfied with the play of our forwards.

— Fedor Smolov scored his centenary goal in Russian championships. How important is this milestone for him?

— Honestly speaking, I thought he had already scored more, because he is a very high-quality striker. Fedor is a very important player for Dynamo and Russian football as a whole. It's his job, but I'm still impressed with his moves around the pitch, how he presses the opponent and makes a great contribution to the team's play. He has many successful years in football still ahead.

— Konstantin Tyukavin came on as a substitute, earned a penalty and participated in a couple of dangerous attacks. What can you say about his play?

— He played well today, just like in the previous match. He has a great future. He works hard in training and he is constantly growing as a player. Now he starts matches on the bench, but then he will definitely come out from the first minutes. And as today's game has shown, it is not so important how you start it, as how you finish it. Tyukavin's contribution was important, even though he did not spend much time on the pitch.

— Fedor Smolov and Daniil Fomin executed two penalties. Who is still the main penalty taker?

— Smolov and Fomin are our main penalty shooters. They decide themselves who will take a penalty. It depends on how they are feeling on the pitch. We do not have any prescriptions who should execute the first or who should be the second.

— Dynamo scored three goals from set-pieces. When will the team start finishing in another way?

— Yes, we didn't convert many chances today, but we still scored one goal which had been canceled due to offside. This is one of the aspects that we need to improve in order to score more. Today I can say a lot of good words about my team, but there is no past in football and this game is already in the past. In the next match we host Khimki and now we have to be fully focused and prepare for a new challenge. Hopefully we can improve the finishing in this encounter.