Former KHL head coach Andrei Nazarov shared his thoughts ahead of the Gagarin Cup final, where Lokomotiv will face Ak Bars.
“In the decisive series of the Gagarin Cup, two strong teams, two ambitious clubs, will meet. We are in for the strongest final in KHL history. There are no random participants at this stage — nobody gets here without earning it. Both teams will give their all after a long and grueling road filled with injuries and nerves.
Ak Bars and Lokomotiv, like a massive truck and a train filled to the brim with the world’s best fuel, will deliver a true hockey celebration and strive to be the first to cross the finish line.
As practice shows, finals are decided by nuances. Who sharpens their skates better, what the chefs prepare, the physical condition of the players, how well the teams are guided into the series, and which goaltender plays more reliably. I also hope that fire alarms in hotels won’t go off during the players’ daytime naps — such precedents have happened, and they don’t reflect well on anyone.
I want everything to be decided in honest, man-to-man competition,” Nazarov said.
