BYKOV: RUSSIA WON SILVER, NOT LOST GOLD

The head coach of the Russian national ice hockey team Vyacheslav Bykov talked about the national squad after the World Championship-2010 in Cologne.


"I want to emphasize at once that we did not get silver medals of the World Championship but we won them with our sweat, blood and injuries."

"I disagree with those saying that our team came to Germany firstly to revenge on Canada and only secondary to win gold. We arrived to win gold. And not to satisfy the players’ own ambitions but to make our supporters happy."

"Let us remember the match against Czech Republic. First shift. What were your impressions – that we conceded a goal immediately because were not ready to fight?"

"And we have different feelings. Fyodorov wins the face-off, Semin rushes forward overtaking the defenseman but falls down and hits his head against the board. Fyodorov also falls down, either slips or the guard pushes him. Meanwhile Semin is lying because it hurts."

"Czechs start their counterattack and Alexandr moves to the bench to let another player help the team but he is a bit late to close down the Czech who scored."

"All this was overmotivation, the desire to jump down throat. And we cannot blame Alexandr Semin. He could have kept lying on the ice – staging though it was not a simulation. But he tried to crawl to help his teammates but was late."

"What was this? Accident? No, it is called sports. The Czechs took advantage of this situation. All honour to them!"

"It was pure Russian-Czech gambit so to say that usually ends up with 1:0, 2:1 scores."

"It was a purposeful decision to bring to Cologne as many Olympic players as possible. We wanted to give the players a chance to play, they had preference while composing the squad. That is why I spoke about Cologne as of “penal battalion”. In Vancouver we made a slip."

"As for Kovalchuk I think he managed the role of captain very well. Though young he is a very strong man. And he has developed a lot since the three years we meet in the national squad."

"I was amazed at his reaction on our first call after his New Jersey stumbled out of the NHL play-offs. Where and when should I come? – were his words. I think that this spring it was Ilya who set an example of respect to his native land. And the others followed his example."

"If I am to remain on the position of head coach till the next championship and Kovalchuk and Morozov are both in the roster I think Ilya will be captain. He is a representative of a new generation that is to pass on a baton. By the way Alexey and Ilya are friends and I do not expect any troubles with captain nomination to arise."

"It is pointless to judge our squad saying that people overestimate it or not. We chose the best to represent our country. But I think that we can be proud that our supporters want to see us only in the forefront."

"After a long break we have not only won bronze, two golds and a silver of the World Championships but our supporters again felt the taste of victories and demand perfectionism from us!"