Yevgeni Chernov on his starting debut for Zenit in the league
The young blue-white-sky blue defender on the difference between the Premier League and the FNL, starting for Zenit and the injury that forced him off.
There's a big difference in speed and you need to think fast, make fast decisions. There's less wrestling than in the FNL, there's more nice play.
How do you evaluate your game? What impressions do you have from the match?
My Impressions are great! The game was good for us. In the first half we controlled the course of the match and they didn't have any chances at our end. As for my play in defence, I was all right.
When did you learn you were in the starting lineup?
I had has assumed it a couple of days ago because Yuri Zhirkov didn't train and neither did Criscito, so I thought I had a chance.
What kind of tasks had Mircea Lucescu set you for the match?
Personally, he did not give me any specific instructions. All full-backs have certain responsibilities and I just stuck to my game.
How did you feel about the substitution at half-time?
I got injured and said that I could not continue in the match due to a knock to my leg.
Are you upset that you didn't score the chance you had?
A little bit, of course I wanted to score in my debut match.
How's the leg?
There's a small bruise, but it's okay. Hopefully it will be fine in a couple of days, maybe even tomorrow.
You played against this team last year. Have they changed since then?
Orenburg played well in midfield and have some good players there, for example, Georgiev, he has a high level of football. They haven't really changed and continue to play good combination football.
Are Spartak Zenit's main rivals for the title?
I think they were always Zenit's rivals. We will just try to earn points and win the championship.
Are they the main opponents for this?
I think so.