TALALAEV: I Don't Care When People Who Don't Contribute Look for Sensations
June 27, 2026 · Global
Andrey Talalaev, Baltyka's main coach, answered Kurban Berdyev's criticism, emphasizing that his team showed good results despite dissatisfaction from leading coaches.
Baltyka's main coach, Andrey Talalaev, responded to coach Kurban Berdyev's statement criticizing his club by saying that it "didn't think much". Talalaev admitted that Berdyev was a respected figure in the world of football, but he felt the need to set a few things straight.
"When friends started calling asking if I had a falling out with him, I only saw a few snippets of interviews. Of course, if someone spent years of his life analyzing De Zerbi's actions and game and understood it better than I did, then he would be very sensitive to any opinions about the coach.
I would react the same way if someone spoke badly about Nevio Scala in front of me. However, the way the information is conveyed is important. With television, what is said on a live broadcast is difficult to distort.
But regarding De Zerbi, my statement was taken from the wrong context. We discussed the best coaches and mentioned Wiener, Tutberidze. In football, there is Nagelsmann and Bielsa who I have always liked.
Regarding De Zerbi, I admit that he has interesting ideas, but to make them happen requires players with the right qualities. When something new appears in football, I go to see it firsthand, as I did last winter in Como.
I planned three soccer games while in Italy with my wife. We went to watch Verona play Udinese and Como play Fiorentina. Unfortunately, I couldn't go to see Napoli due to my health.
Every coach must continue to develop, but that development must be in accordance with the club's capabilities. The philosophy itself can be very attractive and can drive football around the world, but it does not always produce the desired results.
I just want to say that De Zerbi may be considered too high in terms of results achieved. The responses that emerged regarding my intellectual abilities and Baltyka's playing are probably just the opinions of someone who has seen a lot in his life.
In my view, he has the right to express his opinion publicly, and I also have the right not to respond to it. The games of Berdyev-coached teams — such as Rubin, Rostov and now Turan — are also not always aesthetically appealing to people who are not supporters of those ideas.
Baltyka's playing may be very different from his aesthetic philosophy. However, I believe that no one has the right to doubt the hard work of my players, even by prominent figures.
The kids have already shown more than they can at this stage. If we manage to steal points from all the top teams in our league, that will certainly speak volumes. I leave it to Kurban Berdyev to judge our game. Regarding my intellectual abilities, perhaps people who know me better can give a better assessment.
It is not true that I fell out with Berdyev or his colleagues. It's just that currently Baltyka staff, including me, have become a certain trend. When non-contributing and lazy people start seeking sensation from us, I don't care at all. And I felt a little uncomfortable hearing this from Berdyev.
"I think, when we meet later, I will try to explain what happened," said Talalaev in an exclusive interview with Championat journalist Oleg Lysenko.
