Nice to see you Vyacheslav!
I love you too!
How was your holiday? How did you spend it?
This was probably my most relaxing holiday, I just went to Moscow as my wife takes part in equestrian and she had some competitions there. After that I was back in St. Petersburg and spent time with my family. So nothing special really, just family fun.
Did you go and watch your wife competing? Do you enjoy watching it or is it just your husband’s duty?
No, I’m now really getting into it, it's really interesting when you learn about something new. It’s a really tough sport, the horses jump at around 1.6 meters and you can see how difficult and dangerous it is. I’ve started to like it, so there’s no duty.
Would you like to try horse riding yourself? Or have you tried it already?
Maybe. After finishing my playing career, I might give it a try, it’s very exciting to jump while on a horse. Maybe not quite so high, but I’ll like to try.
Have you tried just sitting in a saddle?
A long time ago, the last time was maybe when I was 17. I think I sat on a horse as a little boy, but I haven’t for a long time.
Did you watch anything interesting during the holidays?
I watched all of Harry Potter (laughs). There’s are classics and my wife and I always watch them during the New Year holidays, and this time we watched all the films from beginning to end.
Do you have a favorite Harry Potter film?
Probably the Chamber of Secrets, it’s the most interesting one in my opinion.
What else did you watch with your family over the New Year?
The classic Soviet films. On 31 December, I was at a sauna with my father and my close friend and we watched all these films and played table football.
Do you have a favorite Soviet film?
The Meeting Place cannot be Changed (A classic Soviet police crime drama- ed.)
What are your favourite New Year foods?
Salads, both Herring under a fur coat and Olivier. My wife has started making a salad with shrimp, pineapple and cheese, which I really like too.
Before the winter break we wrote you would be training on an individual programme. How has this been?
The club’s coaches put together a programme for me. There’s a swimming pool with a gym in not far from my house and I worked out there. I love swimming!
How do you feel now? Are you fit and ready to play?
I feel good, but an individual programme and the gym are one thing, I’ll need the club’s doctors to have a look at me. I hope I will start the Gazprom Training Camp fit and with the first team.
We talking now at the players medicals, we’ve heard you like to be the first to take a medical, why is this?
On the first day it’s not normally very busy and you can quickly get through the tests in two and a half hours. If you're in town, why not come.
How was your medical?
Everything felt fine, I’m used to it all.
The first Gazprom Training Camp is ahead of you, what are your expecting? Are they different every year, or do they stay the same?
The training camps are always quite similar with general conditioning training, so I’m expecting it to be as normal. This winter training camp might be a bit different from the previous ones, but I don’t think it will be a lot different.
Do you look forward to the start of training camp or do you not enjoy it?
Of course, after a holiday I want to train because I’m bored, but after a week my legs start to hurt, and I start to change my mind (laugh). But seriously, I think everyone is looking forward to them because they already miss playing.
What are your plans and aims for the spring part of the season?
To compete in the league and the cup. We must go for it!
