Andrei Talalaev, the head coach of Baltika, stated after his team’s 29th-round match in the Russian Premier League against Lokomotiv (0-1) that his side does not yet deserve the league’s bronze medals. 
Lokomotiv Moscow 1-0 Baltika Kaliningrad — Rudenko scored in the 4th minute, while Andrade was sent off in the 12th. 
“As a rule, you get what you deserve over a long championship. I like living under pressure and stress. The only issue is that my health doesn’t always allow it. I recently had 20 cm of intestine removed—it was a long-standing issue, but I feel healthy now. I feel resentment, but I don’t accept pity when someone tries to feel sorry for me. That’s not a good feeling. We came in as a First League team and stirred up this league! We showed that you don’t have to spend €100 million; you can play with these guys and impose your game. Obviously, it’s not the most attractive football aesthetically. I flew to Turkey to watch Como’s training camp in person—I wanted to talk to Fabregas, but it didn’t work out. After watching that live, I understand people’s views. And when you compare me to Romantsev and Semin, that’s a huge compliment for me. But I’m not there yet. Those people have trophies. At our club, everyone does everything possible for success—all our departments, the fans. I’m enjoying what’s happening. Probably, we haven’t earned the bronze yet, but we are gradually developing. If we had taken third place now, honestly, half the league would need to be disbanded…” Talalaev said, as quoted by Championat correspondent Ilya Nikulnikov.
After 29 matches in the Russian championship, Lokomotiv has 53 points and sits in third place, while Baltika has 46 points and occupies fifth place. 