
The former head coach of the "Rubin" team, Rinat Bilyaletdinov, emphasized in an interview with the website "Evro-Futbol.ru" that the Russian Premier League (RPL) should present itself like the NHL in the United States. This was reported by Euro-football.ru.
He stated that instead of waiting, it is necessary to find one's own path and work. Bilyaletdinov noted that the club is not interested in the world championship, but is preparing for the new season of the Russian championship.
According to him, he wants the status of football to expand and deepen. The coach cited the example of the NHL. According to him, the NHL does not send players participating in its Stanley Cup competition to the world championship.
This serves to maintain the value of its championship. A similar approach should also be present in Russian football.
Bilyaletdinov believes that although some oppose Russia's participation in international competitions, they should focus on developing football. It should be noted that since the spring of 2022, the Russian national team and clubs have been excluded from international competitions organized by FIFA and UEFA. At the same time, FIFA President Gianni Infantino and UEFA head Aleksandr Ceferin recently stated that they will welcome Russia back to the international stage.
This raises hopes for the revival of Russian football in the future.