On December 30th, a story about Shanghai Shenhua head coach Slutsky was revealed on Soccer News, who had just finished his vacation in Russia and gave an in-depth interview to the media, and spoke candidly on the podcast about his many insights into Shanghai Shenhua as well as Chinese soccer.
Slutsky revealed that he chose to come to Asia to coach not so much for the riches as for the pursuit of a new life experience. He emphasized, "This doesn't just apply to the coaching profession, but to any other field as well." He had a lot of fun with the experience of working in China: "There is a top club, a national team that hasn't won for years, a charming city, a diverse country and a unique cultural mentality ...... all of which has left a deep mark on me. "
Speaking about his personal plans in Shanghai, Slutsky revealed that he is considering bringing his family to Shanghai, especially his adult son, a rapper. However, due to limited opportunities and his mother's advanced age, he may not stay in Shanghai for long if he does not bring his family here. Nonetheless, he still has a year left on his contract, which he hopes to fulfill.
Slutsky also compared the differences between the Chinese Super League and the Russian Super League, pointing out in particular the difference in the atmosphere in the stands: "In China, what happens in the stands of the stadiums is very different from in Russia, both in terms of the way the fans support, their attitudes and the atmosphere, which shows a huge difference."
Speaking about players from England, Holland and China, Slutsky pointed out that not only do players from these countries differ in their athletic performance, but there are also significant differences in their mental states and habits. He used England players as an example of how they communicate directly with their coaches, while Dutch players, who are taught from a young age that they are the best, have blunt feedback that can lead to emotional outbursts. As for Chinese players, they are more direct in their thinking and coaches need to give clear instructions.
When asked if he would be willing to take over as head coach of the national soccer team, Slutsky said he politely declined the offer due to his contract with Shenhua and reiterated that he has no current plans to coach the national team. He has served as the head coach of the Russian national team at the same time, but this time he made it clear that he will not be the head coach of the national soccer team on the side.
Although some people believe that Slutsky is no longer fit to coach, he doesn't share this view. He mentioned that he has helped some players to improve and even had a player nominated for the Ballon d'Or, which is success for him. At the same time, he said that he does not intend to return to coaching in the Russian Premier League, as the lack of European qualification leaves him feeling unchallenged.
Slutsky revealed that he will be adding clauses to his contract to allow him or the club to terminate it without compensation if necessary, emphasizing the importance of maintaining freedom in his job. He said, "This sense of freedom is vital to maintain control of the team. If the situation gets out of hand, it would be ideal for both parties to be able to end their cooperation quickly."
He also mentioned the movement of his assistant coach, Berezutsky, and the new assistant coach for Shenhua. Slutsky also spoke half-jokingly about his relationship with Russian senior center forward Dzyuba and said that a series of tests will be conducted on Dzyuba after he retires, including an assessment of his suitability as a coaching professional.
