Eldin Jakupovich's interview to Russian Sport-Express. As always, original link:
https://www.sport-express.ru/footba...ister-leonid-lyubit-vyigryvat-trofei-1267621/
-I waited your phone call, - Jakupovic said. -I was playing in Russia and Hull appointed Russian manager. It all fits.
-Hull played well in the second part of season? So why team relegated?
-We failed at the start of a season. Mike Phelan has done not a good work so Hull got down of the table. Then Marko Silva came and made us believe in ourselves, but we couldn't save. I'm disappointed and angry.
-Were you disappointed by Silva's leaving?
-We initially understood that if we relegate, he'll leave. So there's no any insult. Marko gave all to the team and said goodbye with dignity to every player. Now he's in Watford and I only can wish him good luck. But now we have mr. Leonid. He's experienced and very good manager.
-Were you surprised hearing about Slutsky appointment?
-Surprised? (Pause.) Rather, I'm glad, because we have a manager, who knows what the big wins are. I'm sure he'll help Hull to return to the BPL. I know that mr. Leonid trained CSKA for a long time, played with them in UCL play-off, won many titles in Russia... Hull is lucky because it's excellent deal. We got big fish.
-When did you hear about appointment?
-Now I'm on holidays - the team will unite only in 3rd of July, - so I almost don't read news. But I couldn't miss this: one my friend week ago wrote that mr. Leonid is very likely to become new Hull's manager. That time it wasn't official, but was a lot of news.
-Have you had a conversation with Slutsky?
-After appointment - no. But we met in 2011 in Greece, when I was playing for Aris. We were playing with Manchester City in UEL, but I didn't make the match squad, so saw the game from stands. And after couple of days I met Slutsky - his CSKA played with PAOK. We just greeted each other, nothing special.
-What do you know about Slutsky?
-That he loves winning trophies. Beside it - almost nothing. When I was in Lokomotiv, was he already managing CSKA?
-No. That time he worked in club called Moscow.
-Yes-yes! Exactly! Lokomotiv won Moscow in Russian Cup Final. I was playing.
-Were you watching CSKA's games in UCL?
-Yes, I like watching football. I can't remember concrete games in which CSKA played but I know that this team can't keep a clean sheet for a long period. How many games now?
-A lot of.
-I watch Russian clubs' games not only in UCL or UEL, but also in RFPL. I know that Lokomotiv won two Russian Cups in last two years, that last season CSKA was a champion, this season - Spartak after years with nothing.
-16.
-Yes. I don't watch all the games, but I know all main news. RFPL is big league.
-Slutsky is new in England, while you are there already for 5 years. What difficulties will he face?
-It's not Russian football, there is much more harder physically, because of 46 game days. It's very much. I don't know what's mr. Leonid's gamestyle, but there all teams have to fight. 95 minutes, without pauses - fight, fight, fight. Without fighting you won't reach something.
-Hull wants to return to the BPL, but team has huge problems with squad. Are you ready to fight for a place in not so big squad?
-A lot of players left this summer, a lot of have their contracts expiring next year. You already can read in press that Jakupovic leaves, so does Maguire, Huddlstone. But if we save this core we'll have good chance to return to BPL. Mr. Leonid certainly is working with it. He'll struggle but I beleive that he can do it.
-Which league is stronger - RFPL or Championship?
-Spartak, Lokomotiv, CSKA, Zenit and Krasnodar - 5 big clubs which level is above the Championship. These teams have very good players who can individually overplay anyone in our league. But there're fast, strong and tough players. Other Russian clubs don't have such players. That's the difference.
-Would Hull competiting for being in top-8 in RFPL?
-I think so. It would be hard to competite with first 5 but we can beat others.
-Can you imagine Russian footballer in Hull?
-Why not? I hope mr. Leonid will take someone. You have very good players. For example - Alexander Samedov, with whom I played in Lokomotiv. I know that now he's one of the main players in Russian national team, that not far ago he moved to Spartak. But he desreves more - not Hull City but a club in BPL.
That spoiler just has us all heading for Google Translate.
