The left back of HC CSKA Elena Mikhaylichenko became the winner of Handballfast poll upon the results of the past season of Super League involving readers and experts of Handballfast. Therefore, an interview and exchange of emotions can’t be avoided.
— Handballfast experts together with readers defined the best player of Super League, following the results of the past season. Last year you were considered to be the MVP of the season, according to the Handball Federation of Russia. You noted then that you don’t pay much value on personal awards. Your attitude to such achievements hasn’t changed since then, has it?
— Absolutely right. My priorities and principles concerning this issue remained the same in a year. Three trophies, won with CSKA, are the most important achievements in the season. These victories were obtained together with girls, with the whole team.
— The second consecutive season turned out to be golden for CSKA. Was the current success easier or more difficult for the team? It is traditionally believed, that it’s more difficult to defend the title…
— I find it both hard to win trophies and to defend them. But, obviously, it wasn’t easy to keep all three titles.
This season was much more complicated for me personally. It is also connected with a pause I took during the season. Two final months, which I spent with the team, were really hard. I had to get in shape in a short time, facing microtraumas. The body has already weaned from such loads.
In my absence the team managed to be in different conditions. It primarily refers to psychology, not to physical preparation. Great efforts were made in spring concerning our moral state and correctly set goals and objectives. Everyone had to realize, what we are ready for to achieve them.
All girls are heroes in my eyes. They managed to overcome everything without me and after my return. I saw, how each of them desired to repeat last year’s success, all of them were ready to give two hundred percent. The contribution of each player is very important, lots of energy and emotions were invested.
— CSKA hasn’t always succeeded in your absence. Did your heart skip a beat after the defeat from Chernomorochka in the first match of quarter-finals of the Cup of Russia? Did you want to give everything up and return to the court to help your teammates?
—The team also had losses involving me during this season. I can’t say that I was such a remarkable key factor in CSKA play. Of course, an additional player in rotation to assist in attack and defense is always good, but I don’t think that I was so essentially needed on the court. Girls looked harmonious and showed good handball. Probably, that is why I wasn’t too worried about the result at that moment. I understood, that it wouldn’t be easy for the team at the end of the season during key matches.
And I wanted to return with charge of positive emotions, but for that purpose I had to receive it myself. I wasn’t ready in winter. I took a pause not on an empty place, there were reasons for it. I don’t want to get into details, it’s part of my private life.
I was happy to return at the end, at the most important part of the season, and to help the team as much as I could. It’s a great inner achievement for me. As a professional athlete, it wasn’t easy for me to quit in the middle of the championship and leave myself without a fight for the titles. It’s great that finally we managed to settle it completely and to win the trophies on the court.
— You returned shortly before the Final Four of the Russian Cup. The match for the trophy turned out to be difficult and pleased with an incredible outcome. And it was you who scored the penalty kick, that was conclusive in that series and brought the victory to CSKA. Did this fortunate episode of the match keep repeating in your mind afterwards or, maybe, appear in your dreams? Or can you leave such emotional moments behind quickly?
— A four-month pause gave me an opportunity to pay attention and focus on other aspects of my life, not only on sport. Now I have an instrument that allows to switch quickly on other things, not to settle on one issue.
It’s great to feel winning emotions. Euphoria, huge drive, happiness! To feel joy of the work done being converted into result. But at the same time I perfectly understood that after the Cup we would face incredibly complicated matches with Rostov. And they were hard indeed.
It is very painful for the team to cede the trophy in penalty shootout series. Rostov-Don was very motivated for the Super League final series. After the Cup I realized that the tournament was over. I turned my attention to myself, I had to recover quickly. It was also required to promptly amend the team game to face the final at our best.
— In the first match of the final series the away section of CSKA was empty until the break. The supporters returned to the stands loudly in the second half of the meeting. Do players pay attention on such moments, taking place out of the court, or does the concentration on the game hold completely?
— I noticed the absence of our supporters even when I run out for representation. I was very upset and even offended. CSKA supporters are really the eighth player of the team, these are not empty words. Fans are involved in our achievements. They are people, who follow the team everywhere, support us in any situation.
We feel their sincere unconditional love. And when you know that they came even in such a logistics situation, but you are unable to see them on the stands, exchange energy with them, it simply hurts!
I was very happy when they appeared. It was great that we had an opportunity to share the success together. Their positive emotions additionally motivate us. You always want to be thankful to people who support you.
— In the final match in Moscow it seemed that it was coming to CSKA victory in regular time — an advantage of four goals 7 minutes before the end, but eventually CSKA managed to achieve only a draw. Do you have answers why did the team spend the final interval so nervously again? After all, there were difficulties at the end of the match in Rostov as well…
— We just like to cause troubles for ourselves. We like to get out of complicated circumstances, which we make for ourselves! It’s a joke, of course, but not without some truth. Rostov-Don — is a team of the same professionals, as we are. Their girls play at the highest level and want to return the trophy. Again, the motivation of the rivals after two losses from us in Rostov — in the Cup and in the finals of Super League — was too high. In a sporting sense I can perfectly understand their anger and charge. Rostov’s force and our weakness, that we had allowed ourselves, resulted in such an incredible ending.
On the other hand, how could we do otherwise? Broadcast on the federal television channel, stands full of fans of both teams — how could we have left everyone without a true handball holiday? I suppose, together with Rostov we coped by 300%. People will remember for many years, what we had done on the court.
— There is no doubt about it! Was it your first match with two overtime you participated in?
— I hope, that it was the last one! When Alina Kishko scored that fatal ball at the end of the first overtime, I just couldn’t believe that we had to play 2 more times 5 minutes each… I was already in such a state of emotional and physical emasculation. I just kept saying to myself that it just couldn’t be. But a whistle blew, and I had to get ready to keep playing — it’s really happening, I’m not sleeping!
I felt so exhausted at that moment… My body refused to run, throw, work in defense. But in your head you realize that you have to do it, that we haven’t finished yet, we are still on our way to our goal. You feel full responsibility, hear the stands roaring from all sides. When I’m saying it, it takes my breath away and sends chills over my body. The nervous system was just on the verge, it’s almost impossible to get through. I sincerely believe that everyone who survived that match — players of both teams, coaching staff, fans — are simply heroes! I congratulate everyone, you made a real miracle!
— Have any forces and emotions remained to celebrate the league title after such game? Did you get your second wind?
— No, I definitely didn’t have any second or the first and a half wind. On the contrary, probably, everything finished.
I came home and couldn’t fall asleep. I thought it wouldn’t work without sleeping pills, it was simply impossible in another way. Eventually, I fell asleep, but the whole next day I was emotionless with poker face. I was exhausted to such an extent.
Of course, there was so much joy in the moment after the final whistle. I realized that it was over, we were on the first place, the season was behind. But when you breathe out, you have no more forces.
— Your personal statistics in the second final match seems significant — only four scored goals, but at the same time seven assists, 5 earned kicks, a block and five steals. I suppose, these are indicators of a mature player, which is often more valuable than just a large number of goals. Do you agree?
— You know, I gave an interview to the club’s press service before that game and I noted, that I was pleased with my new role in the team. While I primarily scored goals in the previous season, now I’m no less useful in central defense and assisting. Probably, I got the greatest pleasure from these five steals. The play with a pivot in defense is a problem for CSKA, the rivals on this position often became heroes in the matches with us. The coaching staff constantly asks us to block, hold the line, get around the players. That is why steals and other useful actions in defense became more valuable. My goals didn’t cause such emotions — they were working. I can’t name them enchanting or spectacular. Perhaps, someone of those who has been watching my game for a long time, can say, that it isn’t that Mikhaylichenko, where are her stable ten goals?!
But what to do, I’m different indeed. It doesn’t make me sad. Quite the opposite — I’m very pleased with your characteristic of me as a mature player. For a second, I’m only 22. If I’m characterized this way at this age, it’s worth it. I’m grateful for all the people, who invested their forces at a certain point of my handball life, helped to rise.
— Finally, there is a question, the answer to which concerns fans most of all. What are further plans of Elena Mikhaylichenko? And is there a chance to see you on handball court again?
— I thought for a long time, what to say in response and whether to say anything at all. But I understand, how important it is for supporters to hear this information from me.
I don’t move to another club, I didn’t extend the contract with CSKA. I want to live here and now, out of professional sport. Notwithstanding my relatively young age, I’ve lived intense years of handball life. Now I want to pay close attention to myself, to my health, in particular. Like every professional athlete, I left it on the court. While I have an opportunity to live for myself, I want to take it. Now and most likely in future I will be thankful to myself for this decision.
Though sportsmen are usually raised differently — it’s necessary to sacrifice health to achieve results to the end. And it’s normal, it’s a part of our profession. And sometimes we even like it, there is an element of masochism. But you should be able to stop. I will give no further details, I want to keep it within my personal boundaries.
The pause during the season influenced me deeply. I was able to take care of myself in these four months and give enough attention. I want to give myself time again.
Concerning my further sport plans, I don’t renounce. Handball is my passion, it’s the thing I can do well. I enjoy playing and training. If I have a desire to come back and if I have relevant offers from clubs — why not. I am open to all opportunities that life can give me.
Photo: HC CSKA press
