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Good afternoon, this is Gia Saralidze in the studio.
As I promised earlier, I’d like to talk about international affairs.
It so happened that I was able to follow what’s going on in German football with my own eyes,
to go to the games, talk to the fans, sit in the beer gardens where German fans like to watch games.
At the moment the German Bundesliga is making a very very strong impression.
I will say more, not just the Bundesliga, but the First League,
which is also broadcast on TV, makes an impression.
There are overview shows, many fans.
Not to mention the Bundesliga.
By chance, I was present at the game of Eintracht from Frankfurt.
And I was amazed that at every game
(by that time the team was in 15th position, they didn’t have a very good start)
the stadium was full, not a single empty seat.
An unbelievable support for the team.
Eintracht lost the match that I saw, but the support was crazy,
and the same was true for the next game which took place in Frankfurt.
Then Eintracht won.
There are no incredible stars in the team.
One of the most efficient forwards, Czech player Kadlec who plays for the Frankfurt team,
was bought for ?3 million. By the standard of our clubs, these are pennies.
And mind you, Frankfurt is one of the richest cities in Germany,
the land in Hessen is one of the most developed and economically successful lands in Germany after Bavaria.
They count their money.
A full stadium, souvenirs, merchandise including baby diapers, fast-food, wurst, beer - all of this works.
It’s evident that this is an industry that is making money.
You can see it with the naked eye.
A pleasant atmosphere, a good attitude to your own team, many German players on the field
- this is true for almost all German teams in the Bundesliga.
Having followed reports on German football, watched TV, etc.
it’s easy to understand where the German national team is coming from with new names every year,
new players, the incredible number of talents, it’s being renewed.
Of course. It’s due to the infrastructure, the essence of German football, business, etc.
Football schools are working, and there are possibilities.
These talents can find themselves in their own country.
All of this is very good.
We should take this as an example and try to emulate it at least a little.
Including the football quality, the quality of the TV broadcasts,
the wonderful analytical programs that are not too long and without unnecessary talk
or people who are not specialists in football.
Oliver Kahn, who you may remember, and Hitzfeld are commenting,
people of a high level who have the names, the knowledge and understanding of football.
Everything is accurate, fast, with analytical commentary and demonstration of crucial moments.
Everything is very dynamic. I can describe it only in superlatives.
This explains the two German teams in the finals of the Champions League last year,
the victories and good performance of the German national team.
I am sure that in the near future the national team will win European Championship and World Cup.
Of course, in such lengthy tournaments one needs some luck,
beneficial circumstances, etc.
No big tournament can be won without luck.
But future victories and the fact that the German team is constantly playing in semi-finals
and finals are well deserved.
Because football is a national sport at a very high level of development.
This is what I can say about this.
To move from Germany to England.
I can’t omit to note, with regret, the fiasco of Manchester United at the start of English Championship.
Manchester lost to West Bromwich, and rightly so.
It’s been a long time since I’ve seen such a helpless game by MU.
Unfortunately, the departure of Sir Alex Ferguson had an impact on the team and their performance.
I am sympathetic towards the new coach of this FC,
but I don’t know if he will be able and will have enough time to amend the situation.
Obviously, Ferguson’s departure was bound to influence the club.
But the position in the middle of the tournament table with a perspective to move even lower
- this might prove to be unforgivable.
All the more so, since MU is a money-making machine,
the most successful football project in terms of business.
It belongs to American businessmen, who most likely are very far from the world of football,
for them it’s a business, so it’s possible that a manager who is not delivering can be replaced.
I am not sure that this would yield any results, maybe it makes sense to wait and see.
But it’s obvious that MU is in crisis.
We’ll see what they decide.
The time for the Arsenal and Liverpool fans has come,
they are celebrating and anticipating the victories of their clubs.
I am far from thinking that gold medals can be distributed already, there will be a struggle.
But the fact remains, these clubs are leading at the moment,
and their football is better than Chelsea, MC or MU,
which until recently used to be the leaders of English football.
This is not all that’s been happening in international football,
but we have limited time, it seems I already have been talking for too long.
But there are so many things to discuss.
I’ll see you again and we’ll talk about other tournaments and of course about the Russian Championship,
the most important event for Russian fans.
And we will be waiting for a better performance of our clubs in the Champions League.
See you again in the studio of VK.