Former Russian national team head coach Vladimir Plyushchev shared his thoughts on Lokomotiv’s 3-1 win over Ak Bars in the first game of the Gagarin Cup finals.
“Fast goals are never good for any team. Ak Bars decided to play an open game, but Lokomotiv’s defense is sticky, and they caught Kazan off guard,” Plyushchev said.
“Ak Bars had a long break, and such a pause always throws you off. Plus, they made a slight tactical mistake. They need to change their tactical approach. The series could go the distance. Neither team has room to retreat, and they can’t afford to save energy,” he added.
Plyushchev emphasized that Ak Bars needs to adjust their strategy after the loss, noting that the series is far from over.
