Sergio Sánchez: ‘You will see the real Rubin in a month! Good things are not done in haste’

'Beautiful girls? I can't, I'm married'

Sergio, let's start with the most important question. How did the variant of Rubin appear?

The offer the club made played an important role. The goal the club wants to achieve in the short term is an ambitious plan.

What are your first impressions of Kazan?

When I came here, I saw that, indeed, Kazan is a magnificent sports city that has a magnificent base to work at: gyms, pitches, the magnificent new stadium where I'm looking forward to play at. I think fans support the team well. I will try to make this support increase due to our participation. I would like to feel the warmth of our fans. But it needs motives. Victories and a good game are needed, so that they will continue visiting our matches.

Did you bring your family with you to Kazan too?

Yes, my wife has been here. I've been living here alone for two weeks. To be honest, I'm very bored. I hope she and my other relatives will come here next week.

Kazan has been famous for beautiful and lonely girls from time immemorial. Have not you had any temptation?

I've seen many girls here are very beautiful (smiling). But I'm married. I came to Kazan to play football. The rest is in the background. Kazan is magnificent. You have a very beautiful riverbank. It is necessary to enjoy the city, its people and play football. As I have mentioned, for this reason, I am here.

When I came here, I saw that, indeed, Kazan is a magnificent sports city that has a magnificent base to work at: gyms, pitches, the magnificent new stadium where I'm looking forward to play at

What do you do in your spare time?

I go for a walk. I like music very much. I discovered a piano near the river and play it yesterday. I'm trying to integrate in the city, its customs and gradually do what the Tatars do.

Have you already noted any national characteristics of the Tatars?

Actually everything is similar. They very amiable and respectable. They ask to sign an autograph and take a photo on the streets. I like the food very much. I've spent little time in Kazan. In other words, there was not much time to do something else. But I do want to see more things.

I want to chill you a bit. You will have to play several matches when it is 15 below zero. Have you ever played in such conditions?

No, never. It is a new challenge and new experience. It will be necessary to adapt to it. It must not be and won't be an excuse for a good or a bad game. We should adapt, play and win.

'Money won't give results, only football will'

Kazan waited for another start of Rubin, of course. In your opinion, what went wrong?

We should recognise much money was spent on new players and the new coaching staff. But money won't give results. It is a short and a mid-term project. I think there were improvements after every match through the game against Spartak.

It all takes time to automate it, so that the whole team will play one game. It is not achieved by means of payments to players or having money. The work takes more time

In my opinion, the team played against Arsenal worse than against Amkar. In other words, was not this improvement achieved from match to match?

Probably we lacked control in defence. Every match has its own difficulties. It is necessary to focus on what Rubin is. Today's game is absolutely new for everyone. 7-8 players have joined the team. It all takes time to automate it, so that the whole team will play one game. It is not achieved by means of payments to players or having money. The work takes more time. I'm absolutely sure we will start to win. We will see the real Rubin in a month. I will repeat one more time, there must be confidence in the team, confidence in the coaching staff and in that everything is going to be good. This process needs time. Good things are not done in haste.

Sergio, you give an impression of one of the leaders of the new Rubin. Does Rubin play a fast football? Does it suit Russia? We have bad pitches, hard and very defensive football.

Yes. Rubin needs to become the protagonist with the ball in every match. It is not enough to possess the ball in our half of the pitch. It is necessary to possess the ball but also to have an obsessive idea – to attack. In the last two matches, we played against five players in defence. It is a rare scheme in Spain. We have learnt. I think we will have many options to harm our rival. There were not be excuses for not winning matches. The team will take an important step after the match against Spartak. We played well in defence against one of the leaders of the League. I suppose only one out of a hundred attempts to score a goal will be successful. I don't remember any other dangerous moment. It, in turn, means the team defended well. We had many opportunities. Indeed, we need to improve our attack. At this moment we need to continue building the team. I'm convinced in a month we will see a team who is able to fight for top places. The people who joined Rubin came to raise Rubin to leading positions. It is my point of view, my goal and what I want.

In a face-to-face conversation you seem to be a pleasant and sensible person who has a good sense of humour, whereas you express aggression on the pitch. How come?

I'm absolutely another person on the pitch. I want everything to be perfect on the pitch. I'm very strict towards myself and my teammates. But I think it is the only way to mark the difference from other teams. Other teams are very good, but Rubin must be perfect.

I'm absolutely another person on the pitch. I want everything to be perfect on the pitch. I'm very strict towards myself and my teammates

'When you know how to respect, people around also will respect you'

In the match against Arsenal you had a bone to pick with Shevchenko twice. What happened?

Every player has its own virtues. He wanted to tick me off by making me nervous and provoking me. It won't work out with me. Neither he nor another referee will be able to do it. We should respect each other on the pitch. Even the referee likes my behaviour (Editor's Note: the director general of the club Ilgiz Fakhriev, who were passing by, proved his words). When you know how to respect, people around also will respect you.

Won't such an aggressive behaviour result in penalties? Referees of the Russian Premier League like to show red cards.

I think I won't be punished because I talk with respect and say just it the way it is.

Three Russians Burlak, Ustinov and Nabiullin were your partners in the first two matches. Fans noted you corrected their mistakes many times. Is it difficult to play in this rhythm?

I think it is important to help others. Probably in these matches I had to help my partners. But it is a team. Once I may need this help. The most important thing is the emblem all teammates wear. Today I will have to help somebody, somebody else will do it next time. The most important thing that Rubin be on the top. If I have to help, I will do my best. I will do everything possible the team play better, win better and fans can enjoy to the max.

In the match against Spartak, Bauer and Bergström were on the sides. Was it easier to work with them in defence than with Ustinov and Nabiullin?

Every player has its own characteristics. Coach is the person who rules and knows what suits the team best. We total 25 players. The team must play at its highest level regardless of who plays and what his name is. The four players Ustinov, Nabiullin, Bauer and Bergström played well. Rubin needs to continue to play well not depending on who is playing.

'Limit doesn't play to the Russian League's hand'

It is a well-known fact that a limit on the number of foreign players is applied in Russia. How does it affect the competition and the mood in the team?

I think this limit doesn't play to the Russian League's hand. But it is what we have. And it is necessary to adapt to this limit. This limit is good for Russian football players because it gives them a chance to play. Meanwhile, clubs spend money on players but can choose only 6. Those players who don't get minutes on the pitch should be asked this question. From my point of view, they don't like it.

Every player has its own characteristics. Coach is the person who rules and knows what suits the team best

You have played almost in all junior national teams of Spain. In your opinion, what impeded you from joining the first team of the country?

Everybody knows I was the captain of the national teams of Spain in all age categories from under 15 to under 21, thanks God. When I was going to join the national team of the country, I had heart problems. I couldn't play football during 1,5 years. I was lucky to be able to recover completely. At the moment when I was to be in the national team, I missed the boat. I am very happy to have been able to continue playing football and have reached the highest level within 9 years. I have played in a Champions League quarterfinal. Undoubtedly, I wish I had played in the national team of my country. But in this life it is impossible to have everything. I will win the League together with Rubin and get rid of this unpleasant feeling of being out of the national team.

'Gracia is a king'

Naturalisation of football players has been popular in Russia football now. If you are not in the national team of Spain, you can try to play in the national squad of Russia. Have you ever thought about it?

It is necessary to play during 4 years, right? Well, as soon as the four years have passed… I hope to see you here again. It seems I have arrived on time (smiling).

You had worked with Javier Gracia at Málaga. Could you tel lus about this coach in detail?

I had a chance to have played at Madrid, Sevilla, Español, Málaga with Pelligrini. I can say I would choose Javi as a coach. He is good at explaining the reason why it is necessary to do it this way. He assures and explains the advantages of this action. Meanwhile, other coaches assure and just say 'because I said it'. For a player, it is important to believe in what he does. Javi manages to make you believe in what you do. He gives hope to young players. A young player must believe in himself and play football and do his best. Málaga is a proof. Thanks to trust that Javi gave to young players – Castillejo, Juanmi, Darder, Samu and me – the five players are playing in great teams after a two-year work with Javi. A player needs to feel his coach's trust. In this context, Javi is a king.

Is Javier a democrat or dictator?

No, he is not a dictator. He offers what he wants and what he likes. And we like everything he likes. This is why the work with him is comfortable, everything is usually good. Even if he is the leader, he doesn't impose.

He considers the team as his family. Speak to any player who has ever worked with Javi, you will understand he will support him. Javi makes the team a family in the end.

For a player, it is important to believe in what he does. Javi manages to make you believe in what you do

I'm here because Javi is here and because Samuel is here. He made us feel we are a part of him. There must be a connection between the team and its coach. Everybody supports him even if he is a new person here.

A Russian football player's mentality presupposes a presence of a strongman in the person of the coach. Do our players do their best during the training? What do they think about Gracia's democratic approach?

It is impossible to win a match by just running and fighting. You can win 2-3 matches, then you will lose 2-3 games. You can win in football if you play football well. If there is running and fight, it is what the Russians have, except playing football and working with the ball, we will compete at the highest level.

In Spanish football, all players are short and skinny. Nevertheless, they all reached the final: Sevilla, Atlético Madrid, Barça. You can win in football if you play football well. And Javi came here in order to complement the good physical shape, good fight and good aggression of this team and add good football. When we combine it all, we will return to the top.

'Ryzhikov is a spectacular guy and professional'

Each team has its own jokes. How the Russian club's mood differs from a Spanish club?

All teams are different. But here the group of players is impressive. We represent another country and another culture. I have been told joked since the first day. I felt I am a part of them. They commented the length of my hair, the clothes I wear. These jokes allow you to feel you are a part of the family. This is why all new players feel they are a part of Rubin. I think we have joined a very family club. They all – from the president to the last worker – made us at home. I'm thankful for it.

Sergey Ryzhikov is the main clown among the Russian players. Have you already witnessed it?

About hundreds of times. He splashed water on me, swore and threw the ball to me. I think he is a spectacular guy and a professional.

You said you play the piano. What compositions do you like the most?

I like flamenco very much. Almost everything I play is connected with flamenco. I also like pop and Latin music like salsa, bachata and merengue.

I'm dying to celebrate my first goal scored in the Rubin T-shirt

Russia and Tatarstan have a specific cuisine. Have you already eaten anything? Or do you still prefer only the Spanish cuisine?

Yes, I have eaten this bread with an egg inside. I liked it very much. What was it? Kha-cha-pu-ri? In general, yes, the food is very delicious here. And I like to eat. Pe-re-mech? I will try it.

Central midfields are to score goals apart from defensive functions. When should we wait for your goal?

I hope it will happen this week. I'm dying to celebrate my first goal scored in the Rubin T-shirt.