Dick Advocaat: We understand that we need to improve our game

Russian national team head coach Dick Advocaat spoke about the tactics of the game and the problems of the national team after the Euro 2012 qualification match with Armenia (3:1), reported Sports.ru correspondent Igor Borunov.

«We are very pleased with the result. We definitely had to win today. We haven’t shown our best football, there was some nervousness in what players did on the pitch. I think that in the first match with Armenia we had been playing better than today. The nervousness in our actions, I think, was the consequence of our desire to win at any price.

«Yes, the most important thing is that we won today, but we understand that we need to improve our game.

«Speaking about the conceded goal, we should have scored in the previous attack. I had warned the players about the danger of counterattacks. However, a quick counterattack occurred, our defense played poorly, and the opponent scored.

«I love when my team controls the game, but today’s football was just a lot of work, which is not the most enjoyable thing. The problem was that we could not get the game under control. I’ve spent six games as head coach and in today’s match the luck was on our side, I’m ready to admit it.

«As for the fans, who left the stands, I’m not ready to make any political statements, as I’m here to comment on the game.

«During the game I was thinking about the possible changes all the time. Today we did not have as much pressure in the midfield as I wanted to see, so the both pivots got replaced,» Advocaat said.