14/10/2011 09:00
Rookie Lokomotiv NOVOSIBIRSK is excited about start of Champions League adventure
News from the clubs
Novosibirsk, Russia, October 14, 2011. Russia’s Lokomotiv NOVOSIBIRSK is about to debut in the CEV Volleyball Champions League with an away match coming up next week against Italy’s Lube Banca Marche MACERATA. Before they travel to Italy, head coach Andrey Voronkov has shared some information about the composition of his team and the expectations for this European campaign.
Lokomotiv NOVOSIBIRSK is a kind of mystery at the moment; would you say that the team is stronger than last year?
This is not the first time that we are looked at like a mystery. Every single year, as the roster of the team is changing, people argue that we are weak and we do not have any chances in domestic as well as international competitions. However, results are strictly connected to hard work and to the desire of our players to claim good results. We have rejuvenated the group and those that wanted to leave our club have departed even though they got very good offers from our side. It just means that we are going to pursue our goals with a different group of players.
Which is the biggest loss for Lokomotiv?
Some players who departed this past summer have been playing for Lokomotiv for a long period and therefore they were very important to the club as well as dear to the fans. I was very lucky and pleased to work with such professionals, so I can’t really say who we will be missing the most. However, I would like to stress out once again that we are going to go for good results with the new players we have signed for this season.
Are you afraid of your debut in the Champions League?
We are not worried, we are rather excited. All teams assigned to our group have good chances to continue their campaign up to the final stage of the competition. There is no need to say that this will be a thrilling experience for all of us!
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