Stanislav Cherchesov: “We need to find a balance between defense and attack”

- I am more satisfied with this game than against Slovenia. Today we had good combinations and actions. Another thing is that we conceded three goals after our own mistakes. Therefore, such things are punished at this level. Whether we want it or not, but the intensity of such games is higher than in our league. We still had time in the first half, we made substitutions in the second half to maintain the same level. Our mistakes led to goals. We will work on it. The main thing is to recover and prepare for the next match. I'm glad that today several players appeared in the national team for the first time. We need to work on the team, do selection and give results. 

- There were a lot of substitutions in the second half. Was it such an experiment or were you thinking about the next match against Slovenia and gave some players a rest?

- This is not an experiment. This is what we see: who is in what condition. We need to distribute the forces to have enough strength for the next game. I am satisfied how Astanov and Islamkhan played today. Darabayev came out after a long break and played quite well. Nations League is replaced friendly games. We will use this tournament to prepare for the World Cup qualification.

- Today for the first time in a long period the national team played with four defenders. Do you plan to continue with this scheme?

- Yes, I plan to play with a four-defender scheme. We need to find a balance between defense and attack. In five defenders Kazakhstan missed five goals from Greece, and later lost to Armenia and Azerbaijan. We know the Austrian level, which they showed at the Euro. We will work on it. Five defenders is a way to nowhere. In such a scheme we do not succeed either in front or behind.

- Not a single goal in three games. Is this our level or is this a temporal coincidence?

- We play in a different division than two years ago. I can't say it's our level. Islamkhan came back and played one half. We need to manage our chances wisely. I will calmly show the guys tomorrow, they do not see it during the game. I think they will be very surprised that they made mistakes in simple situations. If you make a mistake and the opponent doesn't force you, you just give the ball to him and don't make him run back. This is not a criticism, we played away against a good team. This result can't make us happy. We take it as a given: the players have compared themselves with the opponent, so it's easier for the coach to put them in order. When you meet an opponent who is faster, smarter and more cunning, you grow. The main thing is to have more games like this. Then we can reach better level.