Stanislav Cherchesov told championat.com correspondent Vladislav Denisov about his impressions of the game between Russia and Ireland and our team’s prospects in the current qualification.

— What is better – to win in the way we did against Macedonia, or end game in draw but play as we did against Ireland?
— This means choosing between results and performance. I would prefer positive results with a fine performance. And please note that results always come first. I can tell a simple thing: things can take different shapes during a game. We gained three points in game against Macedonia and were held to draw by Ireland. The main thing is to take the first place by the results of the qualification. We need to support our national in any case. Things do not always happen as we want. Macedonia had problems beating Andorra on Tuesday. It is understandable that we want fireworks all the time. But this is not how things happen in life. Every game is started from scratch in football. There is no playback available.

— What did you like and dislike about yesterday’s game?
— I was telling before the game that Ireland would be easier to play against than Macedonia. And I made no mistake in terms of the game mode. First of all, our players were in a much better mood than on Friday. And secondly, the Irish themselves did not perform something outstanding. It was obvious that our team is much more constructive in the field center. And it looked quite strange that the visiting side’s coach continued to have two strikers on field and kept from any corrections. And if you ask what I did not like about the game – the only thing I did not like was that we did not score.
— Whom of strikers did you find more impressive – Kerzhakov or Pavlyuchenko?
— I thought that Pavlyuchenko would be on the starting lineup together with Kerzhakov or will come in as a substitute. But this did not happen. Roman was hard at entering the game – he managed easier in game against Macedonia. The same happened with Bylyaletdinov who also took some time to get to the rhythm. But it was a cross from Pavlyuchenko which could have decided the game if it was not for Shay Given’s save.

— Why Semshov, who regularly scores for Dynamo, is rare at utilizing his scoring opportunities in the national team?
— Igor was quite good at attack, but the Irish were saved first by their goalkeeper and then by defender. As for the second half when Semshov made a cross to nowhere, he was seeking Pavlyuchenko, but he did not follow the game. As a striker who would hardly make a cross further on in such situation, Roma must have thought that Igor will shoot on target himself.

— How did you like Zhirkov’s transfer to left flank of midfield?
— This move was suggesting itself. Zhirkov is attack-oriented player and then we needed a tall defender to compete with the Irish for headers. So this was an obvious choice. As for Zhirkov, he proved even during the game against Macedonia, that he is close to his optimal shape.

—It also looked like Russian defense did not miss much from Zhirkov’s move up front?
— Absolutely.
— What do you think about the defeat Slovakia suffered in home game against Armenia?
— Thatwasaslapintheface. QuiteinterestingifSlovakswillrecover. But another question is why everybody thought they would win Armenians for granted? Everything is possible in football. And we shall be ready to any surprises in Slovakia.
— What do you think about Russia’s prospects in our qualification group?
— I am neither happy nor upset. I have been in football for a long time and follow a simple rule – I am not beaten as long as there is an attempt left. And I have not won as long as my opponent got an attempt. You have to play your best in every game. And results shall be summed up only at the qualification end.