Akron will definitely continue to exist"

The players of Tolyatti Akron scored only one point in the last eight matches of the Russian championship. This does not prevent them from being outside the relegation zone to the first league and even outside the transition zone for the right to stay in the RPL. But the team retains its current 12th place only thanks to the groundwork achieved last fall.

In an interview with Izvestia, Konstantin Klyushev, the club's general director, appreciated the team's performance, commented on the statement by the main star of Tolyatti, Artem Dzyuba, that Akron could cease to exist in the event of relegation from the RPL, and also reacted to the verdict of the Expert Refereeing Commission (ESC) on the scandalous cancellation of Dzyuba's goal against CSKA.

"We could have avoided making unforced errors"

— Is there a panic over Akron's spring results?

— There is no panic. We've never had one. If you remember, at the beginning of the season — in the summer and autumn — there was also a difficult period when we could not win for a long time. But nothing, we managed, we pulled that part of the season. We believe that this will be the case this spring.

— What do you associate with the fact that you were in crisis again in the spring, as you were in the first third of the championship?

— I'll mark a difficult calendar. But first of all, the problem, in my opinion, is that we could have been more disciplined and not made unforced mistakes. In any case, it is important not to give up, keep working and start winning.

— In March, Artyom Dzyuba said that Akron could cease to exist in the event of a departure from the RPL. To what extent do these words have a basis?

— This information is absolutely not true. There can be no further comments here. We continue to develop our academy, we continue to develop the team. There are no such thoughts even close.

— In case of relegation to the first league, will Akron have enough budget to return to the RPL immediately?

— It's pointless to discuss it now, but the club will definitely continue to exist. You understand perfectly well that we are moving consistently — there can be no other way.

"Abu Dhabi remains a priority option for winter training camps"

— In winter, Akron held training camps in Abu Dhabi. Taking into account the fighting in the Middle East, which has affected the UAE, among others, and may resume at any time, are you analyzing alternative training sites next winter?

— There are many changes in the world. Every year we encounter external circumstances that are quite surprising. And nothing can be predicted. Nevertheless, our training camps were great, the weather was great, and the entire infrastructure was excellent too. Therefore, Abu Dhabi remains a priority option for next winter.

— When will it be necessary to determine the location?

— Fees are planned strongly in advance. Already in the middle of summer, it will be necessary to agree on the venue. Therefore, we are exploring alternative options. For example, we saw the difficulties faced by the teams that held training camps in Turkey in the winter. There were constant torrential rains — it was very difficult for the teams to hold training camps in such weather conditions. We also take this into account.

— At the beginning of the season, you talked about having a KPI for average attendance — that you need to reach 7.5 thousand viewers. Is there any movement in this direction?

— Definitely there is, but not as fast as we would like. Nevertheless, we are growing in terms of the commercial component and attendance at home matches. We measured it, and there is an increase, which is at least 10% of the commercial occupancy rate compared to last season. In some matches, depending on the opponent, it increased by 20-30%.

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"I don't see our team playing badly"

— Have you had any discussions with Dzyuba about a new contract?

— We will discuss all this at the end of the season. Right now, all our efforts and attention are focused on solving problems on the football field.

— In your opinion, is Dzyuba ready to continue his career in general and at Akron in particular?

— So far, everyone is focused on what is happening on the field. Everything there should be converted into goals and points scored.

— Is the team able to do this and stay in the RPL without transitional matches?

— By and large, I don't see our team playing badly. The guys are fighting on the field. I think that in the last match against Dynamo Moscow (2:3) we looked no worse, before that we played well against CSKA (1:2). In March, there was a good match with Spartak (3:4). Unfortunately, in all three meetings we conceded decisive goals in the last minutes. The score on the scoreboard doesn't look positive for us. But from the point of view of the game, in my opinion, there is, by and large, nothing to show the guys.

"ESC's answers are like defending the honor of a uniform"

— Did you file a complaint with the RFU ESC about Dzyuba's uncounted goal at the end of the match against CSKA, when due to the referee's decision you could not even the score and lost 1-2?

— The RFU sorted out this episode on its own and decided that the referee had done everything right by fixing Artyom's foul on Akinfeev.

— Doesn't it feel like the ESC is more defending the honor of the referee's uniform when it evaluates the actions of the referees in this way?

— Look at all the responses to our complaints in the ESC. By and large, they are all similar to the defense of the honor of the uniform you are talking about.In any case, the main thing for us is to win on the field. And you can always complain about the refereeing. We know teams that are at the top of the standings and also complain about refereeing. It will never be perfect, so we need to rely on our strengths, on ourselves.

— To what extent does the future of Akron head coach Zaur Tedeev depend on the finish of the championship? It is clear that he needs to keep the team in the RPL, but is it possible to replace him at the end of the season if it can be done with great difficulty — through transitional matches or avoiding them only in the last round?

— Telegram channels constantly write as follows: if a team is going well, its coach is sent to a top club, almost to Barcelona, if it's going badly, then that's it, its coach should be fired.

— How else should it be?

— It makes sense, yes (smiles). Nevertheless, we have repeatedly said and proved that we never act spontaneously or emotionally. Our decisions are quite consistent and constructive.

— Should Tedeev necessarily stay in the RPL without joints or finish in the top ten, like a year ago, in order to keep his post?

— Such conditions are not specified in the contract. We all understand everything and work for the result, not to fulfill the lines in the contract. So we just try to win every next match and be as high in the table as possible.