Jose Couceiro: Lokomotiv’s training ground reminds me of Portugal

Lokomotiv Moscow’s new head coach Jose Couceiro admitted that he has been having a liking for Russia for a long time and shared his first impressions about the new club.

«What are your impressions from the club and Moscow?»

«I was already prepared when I arrived – I had looked a lot of the team’s matches, had collected an fair amount of information. As a result my expectations that were aready high enough did not just met, but also exceeded. Lokomotiv is a club of a high level.

«I was impressed by the club’s infrastructure which can be named quite unique. I worked in many well-known teams, including Sporting Lisbon and FC Porto, and I can tell you that Lokomotiv looks very convincing by all positions.

«I also liked the team’s training ground, the atmosphere at Bakovka strongly reminded me of Portugal. The city is also very nice and as in general Russia has been for me the country for which I cherished huge sympathies. At least because of Marat Izmailov, with whom I had been working at Sporting and who in my opinion is an incredibly strong player.

«Have you followed the Russian league before?»

«I’ve been watching the Russian championship for a long time and in big amounts. When I was in charge of the Portuguese U21 national team, we had to play Russia. So, of course, back then I studied the upcoming opponent and I remember some of your players until now. Then, already as Lithuania’s head coach I had to watch the Russian Premier League matches because a part of my players were acting in the Russian championship. After that I began following your league on a regular basis.

«As far as I know, Lokomotiv has the most creative supporters in Russia. I hope they will continue to support us in the same style after the league’s game resume. And I will try to make everything so they would have the occasion to throw up their arms victoriously more often.

«What do you intend to do at the beginning of your work?»

«The work has already begun, actually. I was told frankly that there are several candidates for the head coach position, but I did not linger and began studying all video materials the club had given to me. I am aware of Lokomotiv’s games schedule and on July 4 I will be watching with great interest the match between Yenisei Krasnoyarsk and SKA-Energia Khabarovsk, to know who will be our opponent in the final 32 of the Russian Cup.

«I’ve already drawn up my work plan and we will start implementing it on July 3, when the team will gather at the training ground. I will be introduced to the players and then the working process will begin,» the Portuguese coach said to the official site of Lokomotiv.