"Žalgiris" coach Vladimir Čeburinas, despite the productive victory against "Sūduvas", had comments for his team's game, and the young striker Romualdas Janson, a pupil of the club's academy, was happy with his debut goals among the country's elite.
"Zalgiris" scored once in the first half of the match against "Sūduvas", and the opponents received a red card. In the second, Žalgiris scored three times and won 4-0.
"Understandably, the opponent chose to play as number two, with fast counterattacks. We created a good attack for them. Bravo to Tomislav Duka. He really saved the team. We controlled the ball a lot, there was a lot of movement. However, not everything went well in the first half. There were half-explosions that could not be realized. In the second half, the opponent had a player deficit. As if there should have been an advantage. However, the opponent started to defend even more compactly. Sometimes it was possible to break through the defense with passes. However, we scored all goals from outside the penalty area. However, it is an element of the game, it is inevitable", assessed V. Cheburin.
"The first half was more difficult, in the second we created more chances. We took advantage of those opportunities. A really great jump, I think the further we go, the better we will start to play. In the second half, the coach emphasized certain things, as a result of which we created more chances and realized them", said R. Janson.
When asked if he was satisfied with the game against a dense defense, the coach answered: "It doesn't matter how many defenders our opponents have, they always defend in a compact manner. Breaking through that defense is not easy. The first half showed us what more we need to do and how. We saw those passes that flew past the defense. Sharpening forward gears. Although the goals came from outside the box, our actions were correct. It needs more attention. We made a lot of mistakes. It could have happened due to a break, lack of game practice, preparation."
In the first half, Joelis Bopesu replaced Petaras Mamičius in the ranks of "Žalgiris". "It happens that the player is not lucky. Makes one mistake, another, it puts pressure on the player. There is no need to bring him to the point where he loses his self-confidence. I made a substitution, another player came out, we have competition. There is healthy, good competition. Two players of high skill. We will consider it, solve it and continue working," the coach said.
All three goals of "Žalgiris" were scored with excellent shots from a distance, and Romualdas Jansonas scored his first goal in the main team.
"All three goals were beautiful and good, accurate shots. Both Oyewusi, Paveličius and Janson. This is the player's job. Shot on goal, finish. This is the striker's goal. Janson scored, cool guy. Had many chances before this match. Sometimes it didn't work. A young man wants a lot at once, it doesn't happen like that. Little by little, what needs to be done will come to him. He will progress", said V. Cheburin.
The 17-year-old Janson has played in five of six games in the opening season, and this time he finally managed to score his first goal.
"The goal means a lot to me, it's the first goal in professional football. I always grew up in "Žalgirietis" academy. Thanks to all the coaches who put in a lot of work so that I could be here one day and take my chance. I have scored more than one such goal in youth football. This is my position, from the middle, left foot. All I remember is that the ball goes into the goal, adrenaline and joy flooded in," commented the striker.
Next week, Žalgiris has two trips to Šiauliai and Panevėžys, and then three more matches in April.
"We have a long bench, good competition. Not the first time, as they say. It's not the first time we'll be playing every few days. We prepare for the next match, and then the next. We are ready", assured V. Cheburin.
"Žalgiris" will play their next match in Vilnius on April 16. against "Hegelmann" of Kaunas district.
fkzalgiris.lt
