Oleg Bratash: "We are ready for the USA's physical play"

Oleg Bratash, Russian junior national team coach, gave his views before the Russia-USA 2016 IIHF World Championship semi-final tomorrow:

- Have you got any emotions left after yesterday's thriller?

- I think that the guys should find them, they understand who we are playing against and the importance of the match. The main thing is that they won't burn themselves out before the game begins.

- Have you got any coaching secrets about how to prevent this from happening?

- Everyone is individual, everyone has a different way of thinking. The guys should teach themselves hwo to pump up for matches, someone shouldn't do it for them. They should be tense for the match, but not get too nervous. They should be in a state to show their best qualities. This is a very tough part of our work inside the team, and it is very indiividual.

- Did you change in your training process taking into account who you are playing against?

- We make all training different - it depends on what we want in a certain situation.

- Can you pick anyone out from the American team?

- We might put focus on to the fact that they have leaders, but the tactical plan will concern their whole team. However, when playing against a strong opponent it's hard to fulfil your game plan.

- Chris Chelios is one of the American coaches, and not long ago he was a very physical defenceman. Has he made the American players play like he did?

- North Americans alway single out from the rest because of their physical play, but we are ready for this.

Russian Ice Hockey Federation