Barinov on Slutsky, Dzyuba, and a Locker Room Moment

In a candid chat with a regional sports outlet, Dmitry Barinov, a midfielder for Lokomotiv Moscow and a member of the national squad, opened up about a moment that followed a sharp remark from head coach Leonid Slutsky. The discussion centered on what he said to his teammate Artem Dzyuba after Slutsky publicly questioned Barinov’s performance and character. Barinov chose a restrained tone, explaining that he did not challenge Slutsky’s characterization of him as someone who could be seen as foolish. His response was simply a direct question: “Are you surprised?” He noted that Dzyuba found humor in the situation, and that the exchange was taken in stride among the players. The midfielder emphasized that his goal was to stay focused on the bigger picture: the program’s content has a clear purpose, and that understanding helped him remain calm. He also mentioned that he follows some episodes of the program with a sense of lightness, sharing the moment with Dimka Tarasov. For Barinov, a bit of humor serves to diffuse tension while maintaining a professional perspective on the game and its broader narrative. He believes humor has its place and can be a healthy part of locker room dynamics when kept in the right spirit, especially in a high-pressure environment where focus matters most.