SKA - Ak Bars. Press-conference

HC Ak Bars Kazan head coach Zinetula Bilyaletdinov:

- It was an interesting game from how we kept our advantage. The team played to win. There were a lot of fans at the stadium today, and I think that such an atmosphere gives the players a boost. Everyone tried to show their best qualities. I am satisfied with the team's game and the result.

- You are both two great coaches. Is there a rivalry between you?

- Thank you for that compliment. Any coach wants to win, and prepares seriously for every game. However, we got ready not to take on Vyacheslav Bykov, but to take on a strong team which is solid in all aspects. Here there are players of a high level who are showing good hockey. About us, the coaches, then our relationship is a good and working one.

- Most people think that Vyacheslav likes more attacking hockey, with you more of a fan of defensive tactics.

- When I hear such comments, I want to ask what do you exactly mean. At least explain to me what you are talking about. Yes, we give time to our defence, but also our attack is important. A team which wants to win should play well both in defence and in attack. As a result, I do not understand what you are talking about. For me it's even funny to listen to. I don't mean you in particular, but journalists which constantly repeat the same question.

HC SKA head coach Vyacheslav Bykov:

- We were given a true beating. After we scored we had a chance to get back into the game, but it wasn't meant to be today. Overall we didn't deserve any points from this game. Ak Bars played very tightly with discipline. We don't have enough realism yet or enough effectiveness either in defence or attack.

- It seemed as though Mikko Koskinen sank after the second goal. Did you feel that too, and did you think about pulling him?

- He didn't take any armbands with him to go swimming. I didn't have any such thoughts. He has come into this team to show what he is capable of. He should understand that there is pressure here, and that he should pull it out of the bag in these games too. Today his counterpart did that. However, you cannot say that about our goalkeeper. Even so I am not going to blame Mikko for this defeat, the whole team didn't do its job properly.

- Is there a rivalry between you and Zinetula Bilyaletdinov?

- I have respect for Zinetula, especially as we played in one team together. About our teams, then yes we get pumped up to take on any opponent, and not to face one particular person.

- Would you agree that you like more attacking hockey, with your opposite number preferring a more defensive style?

- Don't believe rumours.

- There was a feeling that SKA's players became tired after failing to equalise when the score was 1:2. Is this true?

- No, absolutely not. We had time to prepare for this game, and we did. After we couldn't score the second, the psychological factor came into play. When you survive being on a three on five, it gives you belief. It has got nothing to do with our physical state.

- Were the opening two goals down to a lack of concentration? And is this something which you can work on in training?

- I cannot say that it was a result of not having concentration. Their first goal was down to playing well on the powerplay, and the second was like a playoff goal - the puck was played on to the crease, and the quickest to it took advantage of the chance. Our defencemen should play closer to the opposing forwards. But I do not agree that this is down to concentration.