Former coach for Penza “Laguna-UOR” says his layoff was unexpected
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Penza, 10 February 2016. PenzaNews. Mikhail Kryukov, who has been fired from his position as the head coach of the Penza mini-football club “Laguna-UOR” after the team’s unsuccessful performance during the Russian Cup, says he did not expect the result of his players to lead to his layoff.
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“Of course that was unexpected, we seemingly had no objectives set for us for this season, seeing our situation: five players from the first team left the club in the beginning of the season, they were the headline players. The average age of the team players is currently at 20, they are inexperienced, they don’t have much schooling behind them,” Mikhail Kryukov commented for PenzaNews on his layoff.
In spite of all troubles, “Laguna-UOR” got off from a good start in the season, he reminded.
“We held a gathering on September 4, and our first game was as early as on September 18. While we were still fresh, we played rather well, and even kept the first place after the first round. And now, obviously, come disqualifications due to red cards, as well as injuries. So we were unsuccessful during the [Russian] Cup. Seems like the club management decided that swapping coaches would be the best,” he said.
According to Mikhail Kryukov, even though the Penza club currently holds the fourth position in the roster of the Russian Women’s Mini-Football Supreme League, “Laguna-UOR” is only 3 points behind the third place and merely 4 points behind the second place – a gap which can be easily bridged by the athletes.
Discussing his future actions, the trainer admitted he currently has nothing concrete to tell.
“I think nobody will have anything going for me – it is the middle of the season. Frankly, I was stunned by the news so far. I am still dazzled myself and do not know what to do just now,” the former coach said, explaining that he learned about his layoff only by the afternoon of Wednesday, February 10.
Leaving the club where he reached good results is not an easy change, Mikhail Kryukov added.
“Of course I am hurt. But I realize there is no use living in the past in sports. I think I still achieved something here. We won the cup for five years straight, we were the champions four times, but apparently nobody is interested in that,” the trainer concluded.
