To celebrate the release of Everything Else Matters, the hotly anticipated debut album from Russian shoegazers Pinkshinyultrablast, we spoke to Igor and Rustam from the band about their respective loves for Bayern Munich and Arsenal…
How did you come to support your team?
IGOR: I became a fan of Bayern Munich during the 1998–1999 UEFA Champions League and mostly after the dramatic lost final to Manchester United.
RUSTAM: About 15 years ago, when I accidentally started to watch the Premier League on a local TV channel. Since then I support Arsenal.
What are your expectations for the rest of the season?
IGOR: I expect the team to win Bundesliga and DFB Cup and to reach Champions League final or semi-finals at least.
RUSTAM: I hope the team will perform better than in past seasons. Position in the top three, Champions league semi-finals and one more FA Cup trophy.
Do you think the manager is doing a good job? If not, who would you like to see replace him?
IGOR: I don’t think Guardiola is the best coach for the team due to some tactical and mental differences. Anyway he is doing a good job, but in my opinion Heynckes and Hitzfeld performed better.
RUSTAM: Yeah, I think Wenger is doing a good job.
Which areas of the team/squad would you like to see strengthened?
IGOR: Buying a centre forward and central defender in the summer transfer window will be great.
RUSTAM: Definitely the team needs more strong defenders, and also one more good goal-scorer.
Have you managed to get to the ground much to watch them over the years?
IGOR: Never been to the match myself, even when they played with local team FC Zenit. But I visited Olympic Stadium in Munich before the team moved to the Allianz.
RUSTAM: Unfortunately I have never been at a match, but I am always looking forward to it.
Finally, if you had to select a five-a-side team out of all the players you’ve seen play for your team in your time as a fan, who would you pick?
IGOR: Oliver Kahn (GK), Philipp Lahm (DF), Mehmet Scholl (MF), Arjen Robben (MF), Roy Makaay (FW).
RUSTAM: T. Henry, D. Bergkamp, K. Toure, B, Sagna, J. Lehmann.