A month after arriving in Russia, new Spartak Moscow Unai Emery coach shares his plans on returning the nine-time Russian champion to title-winning form, and reveals an aspect of Moscow he finds "horrifying."
How has preseason training gone for you? Have you managed to get a feel for the team?
"We've been working together for five weeks already; it's been quite a positive time. I've gotten to know the players and become accustomed with the team. The players gradually understand my methods. I think we're ready for the start of the season already."
The season starts this weekend. Have there been any hitches in your preparations?
"The main difficulty has been the late arrival of players who have come back from international duty, after the start of preseason training. Also, [Argentinean defender Nicolas] Pareja is injured, and we have used [20-year-old defender Soslan] Gatagov and [18-year-old defender Ilya] Kutepov. These are players who have a big future, but they're still a bit too young. At this moment in time we haven't been able to sign a single defender, though we're working on it."
It's no secret that Spartak's main problems are in defense. How are you planning to solve them?
"I don't want us to defend using only defenders. We're going to be getting the whole team involved in defending. Plus, we are going to build our game more around possession play. When you have the ball, there is less defending to be done. The more attacking you do, the fewer problems you have at the back. We have [Czech defender Marek] Suchy, Pareja and [defender Sergei] Bryzgalov, who is currently injured, but we want to buy another center back. Also we have really good wide defenders. This is going to help us out."
Is Czech defender Tomas Sivok one of your transfer targets?
"This is work that the club is getting on with. Myself and Valery Karpin in particular. I am always consulted before we acquire anyone. The transfer of [Cagliari and Italy defender Davide] Astori collapsed, but aside from him there are other decent players on the market, though I wouldn't want to focus on any concrete names."
The great hope of the Spartak fans is right-back Sergei Parshivlyuk. Can you turn him into a fullback of the caliber of Jordi Alba?
"I believe in the Russian players I have in my team. If they work on their strong points, then we will have no problems defending, but I wouldn't want to draw parallels with any other players, such as Alba."
Do you see Brazilian striker Welliton and Nigerian forward Emmanuel Emenike playing in the same side?
"As I've said before, we will be playing a 4-3-2-1, with one striker. At some point we may switch to a 4-4-2 whereby Emenike and Welliton could play together, but also have [Brazilian forward] Ari, [Russia striker Artem] Dzyuba and Alexander Kozlov. We don't rule out the possibility of reverting to a 4-3-3 at other times."
What's Dzyuba's role in your team?
"He has the possibility of becoming not only an important player for Spartak, but to grow into a big-time player. We have to help him achieve this. He has huge potential, but he has to want to develop as a player."
Why do you think Russian coaches aren't really in demand in Europe?
"That's a hard one to answer, seeing as I've only been in Russia for a month. When I get a bit of time, I'll be able to talk about this. Russia's had its share of good coaches who have achieved a lot. Like [former Soviet national team coach Valery] Lobanovsky and [ex-Russia coach Oleg] Romantsev. Why they never went abroad I can't say. In Spain a lot of coaches go off and work in other countries, just like many managers come to us."
Spartak fans are notoriously demanding. Are you ready to work under the constant stress and pressure of expectation that comes with the job?
"All the clubs I've worked with, from Lorca Deportiva to Almeria to Valencia, have had demanding fans. We've always set ourselves the most ambitious goals, and we've always met them. Of course there will be serious demands here, but we also have big ambitions and we'll try to make them materialize."
Do you know what Spartak fans dream of the most?
"A second star. [In the Russian league, teams display a star on their shirt for every five titles won. Spartak have won nine titles in the modern era.] This is a dream we share with the fans and we are thinking only about how to make it come true. We need to work very hard and first of all believe that together we can achieve it."
Spartak need to win a two-legged playoff next month to make the Champions League group stage. How would failure to qualify affect the team?
"The Champions League is a tournament that features the best teams in Europe. To get back there is one of Spartak's aims. But if we don't manage it, we'll be in the Europa League. Sure, the main aim is the Champions League. This is crucial for the club and for me also."
What's your view on the expansion of the league's foreigners quota to seven players at any one time?
"I don't want to get into that or to discuss these decisions. Especially because most of them were taken before I got here. I haven't had time to get used to the Russian way of things. Of course, we'll abide by the rules that are currently in force."
What are your impressions of Moscow?
"Moscow is a city of huge possibilities. That's for sure. I haven't been here long, but that's something I can already feel. I've managed to get out into town for dinner and to Red Square, and I'll say straight away that Moscow traffic jams are just horrifying. In the time it took us to get from Tarasovka [Spartak's training ground 10 kilometers northeast of Moscow] to the city center, in Spain we could have traveled from Valencia to Madrid with time to spare! That's going to take some getting used to."
Various coaches are associated with their habits, for example new Lokomotiv Moscow coach Slaven Bilic has his guitar, while Anzhi Makhachkala coach Guus Hiddink was always sipping cappuccinos. What will Unai Emery be known for?
"I don't know. If I'll be working here for a while, which is what I'd like, then you'll have time to notice my habits and preferences."
How has it been learning Russian?
"I'm definitely making progress. The first words I've been studying are football terms so I can communicate with the team. I really hope that with time my knowledge of Russian will get better and better."
The prospect of a freezing Russian winter never put you off? How do you plan to cope?
"I'll put on more clothes! If I start to freeze then I'll ask for advice from someone who has already had to deal with it!"
Are there any other cities you plan to visit while in Russia?
"I came here to work, not to travel. Even when we come to a city with the team, there won't be any time to have a look around the city. I came here to help Spartak achieve great results. When I get some spare time, I'll start with Moscow. But even for this I don't have enough time to get to know the city particularly well."
In your time, you have coached several of the Spain players that won Euro 2012. Juan Mata, Jordi Alba and David Silva to name but three.
"Sure, that's great and I feel deep satisfaction from the fact that I could possibly have contributed to Spain's victory. I hope I'll be able to similar things at Spartak, and if players of the national team who will represent our club in the international arena achieve recognition in Europe, I'll be very happy."
Do Spartak have players who could strengthen the Russian national team?
"I'd love them all to play for Russia. That would be great."
