Russia national team still not convincing under Cherchesov

Moscow: When he took over as Russia coach Stanislav Cherchesov (pic) was handed the mammoth task of transforming a failing and ageing squad into challengers for the country’s first home World Cup in 2018.

But just two months ahead of the Confederations Cup, a World Cup dress rehearsal in Russia, he is struggling to get his team firing after a string of uninspiring results.

“The team is undergoing a generational change,” the brusque 53-yearold said in an interview.

“Our fans want to see a squad with a strong character and we demand our players concentrate and work flat-out in every single match.”

The former Spartak and Dynamo Moscow coach took the reins after Russia crashed out of Euro 2016 without a win and their fans in dis- grace after running battles with England supporters in Marseille.

In the wake of the disastrous tournament, the ex-international goalkeeper – known as a tough disciplinarian – set out radically overhauling the squad and shipping out an array of players past their prime.

Only four of those who featured at the Euros in France were starters in Russia’s latest friendly, against Belgium in March at Sochi’s Fisht arena.

But Cherchesov’s new charges are yet to convince.

Against Belgium they clawed back two goals to draw 3-3 but that followed a humiliating 2-0 home defeat to the Ivory Coast – Russia’s first loss to an African team.

Fed-up fans made their feelings known and the Russians trudged off the field in Krasnodar with whistles and jeers ringing in their ears.

“I have to work with the players that I currently have,” Cherchesov said.

“We have a set of young players who are improving from match to match,” the coach said.

He mentioned goalkeeper Marinato Guilherme, Mario Fernandes the full-back and Roman Neustadter.

The coach also refused to close the door on seasoned campaigners such as Sergei Ignashevich (aged 37) and Vasily Berezutsky (34), whose international careers are on hold. “We watch all of them closely,” he said, stressing: “We need to become a team with a capital T.”

Since taking over there are only glimmers to suggest that Cherchesov – who also won the Polish League with Legia Warsaw – will be the one to lift Russia out of the doldrums and avoid humiliation on home soil.

Under his tenure the team have only managed to chalk up two victories from seven friendlies.

But the moustachioed manager is putting a brave face on it and insists that gaining experience ahead of the World Cup is for now far more important than the results. — AFP