The Dynamo forward talks about the away match of the 16th round of the Super League with the St. Petersburg club.
— Both teams are approaching the match after losses in the Winline Russian Cup. In this regard, what kind of match are you expecting?
— Since both teams suffered losses in the Cup last weekend, this week we will try to approach the game with a different energy, try something new, find the strength to prove ourselves and win this match.
Of course, Zenit is the current champion and they are currently in second place. So, of course, the most important three points are at stake at the moment. We hope to play strongly and score a quick goal.
— Dynamo met Zenit a little over a month ago. What conclusions can be drawn from that match in order not to repeat those mistakes again?
— In my opinion, we played very well in that match. We were one unit, played together as a team. We showed our emotions, showed ourselves really well. Unfortunately, we did not realize our chances, although they were 100%.
We know how Zenit operates: if they are going to play long passes for most of the match, then we are ready for it. We are ready for their tactics, which they have not changed this year. However, the most important thing is how we will be prepared for this meeting.
I am sure that they will prepare for us properly. We need to go out on the field and see how our developments work.
— The match will be held on natural grass. Will this factor somehow affect the game?
— In my opinion, this year we have only played on natural grass once, in Krasnodar. To be honest, on natural grass you feel the ball better, the feeling itself is better. The passes must be stronger, because we are not used to playing on such a grass every day. However, it is better for the skin, for the body.
I think this will allow us to be more aggressive, as well as Zenit. I hope everything will turn out in our favor. At least, I believe so.
— Zenit is a very disciplined team in defense. What do you think about their defense?
— It is clear that they have a very experienced defense, but almost every team has a weak spot that the opponent can exploit. Therefore, I think we will have opportunities to hit their goal, the most important thing is that these shots are accurate. We need to play very carefully when we approach the goal. Again, the question is not so much about strength, but about accuracy.
— How do you prepare for the match with the Russian champion?
— I think we must believe in each other. Because as long as we believe and feel this belief, it only strengthens our self-confidence, as well as our confidence that we can win.
You can find out everything about the upcoming match between Dynamo and Zenit in our traditional pre-match preview at this link.