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The goalkeeper of the Azerbaijani “Qarabag” Andrey Lunev in an interview with Sport spoke about returning to the Russian national team after two and a half year and career plans, and also admitted that he was grateful to the Ukrainian intermediary who helped him find himself in the German Bayer in 2021.
“I would like to impose competition on Safonov”
— What was it like to return to the national team after an absence of several years? What does this mean to you?
— This means that I am doing my job well, an indicator that I am everything I’m still in demand, they’re watching me. This is a great honor and joy for me.
— How do you like the competition for a place in goal? Igor Akinfeev has not been in the national team for almost six years, but since then the team has not had an undisputed “number one.”
— Now the most stable one is Safonov. He is called up regularly and plays more or less consistently. But I would like to impose competition on him and play for the national team, because I want to be the first everywhere. And we have a very good goalkeeper team. I'm talking about all Russian goalkeepers in general. We have always had and will have a good, competitive environment, kind and decent, professional and friendly relations. I will help the one who will play if I don’t myself.
— It’s not a shame that everyone singles out Safonov, but your performances for “Qarabag” and Yuri Lodygin for “Panathinaikos” are less are highlighted?
— Absolutely not, because the guys play in the domestic championship, all eyes are on them. Plus, Yura and I had dark streaks in our careers when we didn’t play. This is probably fair. Yurka is 33 now, I will be 33. This is a normal age for goalkeepers. And Matvey has been stable since the moment he started playing. God grant that he has no bad streaks or injuries in his career and life. I think everyone will be only happy if we have a goalkeeper like Igor. At the same time, no one cancels competition. And, God grant, that official games and major tournaments return as soon as possible. will not take place?
— As soon as the terrorist attack occurred, understanding immediately came. Any reasonable person realizes that at such a time there can be no talk of any games. The next day we were gathered and announced.
— At that time, did they know that they were supposed to play in the starting lineup?
— They told me about this.
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— It seems that they are counting on you to be at least the second goalkeeper of the national team for the June training camp?
— There is no understanding at all. There was a specific period in March, and perhaps it was influenced by the fact that the players from Russia had just returned from training camp, there were not enough official games to have any additional picture. I think the combination of these moments played a role here.
— So you are not confident that you will be able to play in June?
— Tell me, what do we have confidence in? (grins) Nobody knows what will happen tomorrow. What are we even talking about? Let's see how everything will turn out, how I and the other guys will show ourselves. At the moment I’m not thinking about it and moving step by step.
— RFU President Alexander Dyukov announced that one of the opponents in June will be the Belarusian national team. How do you like the fact that the team will have another European opponent?
— We managed to find an opponent — great! And how strong or weak he is, it’s hard for me to judge. I don’t follow Belarusians. They are not included in the «top» category — that's for sure. What more can I say? The game will be great! If they find a second opponent, it will be great.
“As for all political affairs, I am far from them”
— Let's return to the German stage of your career. Looking at how Bayer looks now, thoughts came to mind — maybe it was worth staying as a reservist, but being part of such a machine?
— Do you yearn for something from the German stage of your career?
— Yes, the training process there and the football atmosphere were amazing. I really miss these moments very much. In terms of communicating with some people, too.
— What was the main disappointment during your life there?
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— Bureaucratic difficulties, but there were also people who helped with this. It wasn't very difficult, it was just an experience. There were also negative aspects that arose after the start of the SVO. It was and was — I don’t pay attention to it.
— May 9 in Germany in recent years has been associated with actions by both former Russians and Ukrainians. Have you read about this?
—I haven’t come across it. From my social circle, primarily in the team where I spent the most time, everyone treated me adequately. As for all political affairs, I am far from them. I don’t see any point in discussing this topic, because I know little. But trusting some unverified sources, kitchen conversations is not for me. I can express my opinion, but I need to know the position of both sides.
— Have you encountered manifestations of everyday Russophobia?
— Have a couple of cases, but nothing extraordinary. I reacted calmly to this. Maybe someone would react to this more impulsively, but I don’t give a damn. People whom I see for the first time in my life and, most likely, will never see again, said something. How should I respond to them?
— Ukrainian Anton Astafiev helped you in the transfer to Bayer. Have you maintained any relationship with him or has politics driven a wedge?
— The last time we talked was when I was at Bayer. He was planning to come to Germany, but disappeared. Our communication was mediated — he suggested this option, contacted my representatives, and they communicated more. He wanted to be present at the deal, but it didn’t work out because there were coronavirus regulations. After that, he also got ready, and then, six months later, this situation began. After that he did not write. I can only express my gratitude to him for finding such an opportunity for me to find myself in Germany.
— After two years in Germany — Azerbaijan. This country had its own special operation on the territory of Nagorno-Karabakh. What was the atmosphere like then?
— Honestly, I’m not immersed in this story, but for the population, as I understand it , this is a very important and sore subject. The president's speech was heard everywhere on the radio. I was stuck in a traffic jam and people were honking. They were probably happy.
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— Do you feel like one of the few ambassadors of Russian football on the international stage?
— Honestly, all this excitement happened after the passage of Braga. When a team with a budget of 15 million knocks out a team with a budget of 150, this is some kind of hype. I don’t think that many people follow the Azerbaijani championship in Russia. Maybe only Azerbaijanis living in Russia.
— A non-football question about Azerbaijan. Do they consider gymnast Lala Kramarenko theirs there?
—I don’t know. Our goalkeeper coach communicates very warmly and closely with her father, CSKA goalkeeper coach Dmitry Kramarenko. They say: “Well, his daughter performed well.” But I don't follow it. Although gymnastics in Azerbaijan is very well developed.
“I can play at a high level for three or four years”
— How do you imagine the development of your career now?
— I now have a valid contract with Qarabag. What will happen next — no one can say. My task is to carry out an important period, including the semi-final of the Azerbaijan Cup. In the championship, in nine rounds we have one game left to win — and we are early champions. I want to win the Cup, because in the championship, let’s be honest, everything has already been decided.
— How much longer do you plan to play?
— While I really want to play at a high level, I have the strength and desire for this. It’s hard to make a guess, but I’ll say right away that I can perform at a high level for three or four years. And then we’ll see how things will be with our health, what our psycho-emotional state will be. At the moment I am enjoying the game, enjoying football.
“We will miss the 2024 European Championship and are unlikely to qualify for the 2026 World Championship. Do you believe that we can be allowed to reach 2028 or 2030? How realistic is it that you will be in the national team by that time?
— In 2028, I will be 37. It’s hard to guess. During this time, goalkeepers who are now 20 years old and not trusted may be in their prime, and 24-year-olds will just gain experience. We'll see what happens with my health, but of course I want to. I didn’t play in any major tournament — I was at the World Championships, but in reserve, I was cut off from the Euro before the start. I would like to play and realize one of my dreams.
— Do you rule out the possibility that you will end your career in the Russian Championship?
— I don’t rule out anything. Perhaps the next team will be from Russia, but at the moment I am focused on something else, and transfer matters will be at the end of the season. Life will tell.
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— Do you follow the activities of Leonid Slutsky and Artem Dzyuba?
— Have you been following the show “Well” , you can’t do that,” there were good releases, and there were so-so ones. In general, the idea is cool, but not for the masses. Many people don’t understand this humor, but it was like I was back in the good old days in the locker room. It was funny, fun.
Artem made such a choice, it is his right. Maybe he’s bored, he decided to catch the “hahaha”, realize himself, support Leonid Viktorovich. Well done! If it works, why not? If he has plans for the media space in the future, God bless him!
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