For all this time I've been at Zenit, I have never refused any offer of work that the club's leadership has offered me.If I'm trusted, I'm ready to work. It's always been like this. In 1998 I took control of the first team after Anatoly Fedorovich Byshovets and again in 2009 after Dick Advocaat. I've always agreed, although sometimes with a little anxiety, and we've always achieved good results. 

The dream of many players is to give so much time to their club, if I count my time as a player and coach I have been working here for about forty years. All of my life I have been engaged in practical work and now I want to build a new wave for the future.

I met with Sergei Fursenko and Maxim Mitrofanov, they've given me my tasks and told me not to worry. If there are any organisational issues in my new position, they will help get things in the right direction. 

We discussed getting our young players better prepared for football and their development, we will have to adjust some things in our methodical work. There are no questions that I will change things. My new position will inlcude economic activities as well as sporting. I will suggest some things in the training process and the coaches will be able to consult with me.

Of course, at first it will take some time to understand the specifics of the new role. Our Academy has good coaches who have are experienced, we know they love their work. So I'm sure that together we will find answers that will help improve the training of young players.