Danny: "I feel I've still got 2 or 3 playing years left in me"

The Captain answers the fans questions - On Francisco and Bernard, the most important goal of his career, what he does on days off and his dreams for the future.
In the Champions League group stage, you covered the most distance. What is your secret to endurance? (Nikita Lohmutov) 

I have no special secret. You just need to do a good job: to train, to score in matches and create assists. It doesn't matter how much you run, although I was very pleased to hear this statistic but what matters is that the team won.

How did you get the ability to use the outside of your foot? Has this come from experience or did you train for it? (Andrew Serebryansky) 

Of course, the basic skills of players are learned when young, where you learn dribbling and other tricks. Over the years, I have learned to use them well. I have practised it and now learned to use it well. 

Do your children, like Hulk's children smash the TV with a ball? (Arthur Kozkin) 

Ha-ha, no, the TV is not broken yet. But they have broken lamps and other glass things. But this is normal. Children need to a place to play and we have enough for that.

How good at football are your sons? Do they stand out against their peers? (Peter) 

I'm their father, so for me, they are the best kids in the world. But I can evaluate them as a professional player it seems to me that they have the quality to be good in the future. My sons are trained in different schools at the Zenit academy, they have very talented kids there and it is important that they continue to work with the same effort.

Would you like your sons to play for Zenit? And what do they think about this? (Anna Lodygina) 

Of course, I want that! Zenit are a great team, constantly involved in the Champions League and other important tournaments, this is the highest level! As for the boys, they like it in St. Petersburg, they have a lot of friends at school and in football. I think they would be happy to play here.

How often do your children ask you, "Dad why didn't you score?" (Gregory Karagodin) 

Oh, all the time! "Why didn't you score? Why didn't you pass?". They criticize me all the time, and I tell them one and the same: "You are still a boy, and I'm already a professional, when you become a professional, then you can criticize me".

How's your wife Petra doing at basketball? Is she continuing to play? (Sveta Vasilyev) 

No, but she's had an offer from two teams. She plays very well, but now she prefers to go to the fitness center and keep busy there.

Everyone says that Zenit have a very friendly team. Are you as a captain part of this effort? Do you have much authority in the team? (Misha Smetanin) 

We have a really good team, we all treat each other with great respect. Many laugh and joke, it creates an atmosphere that has helped us to become champions and continue to fight in three tournaments this year. Of course, there are times when it is necessary for someone to shout, but the player can all do it. We have such a good relationship in the team, we can tell each other what we think is necessary and express all our thoughts, if we have any.

What is your dream? (Alexander Klimkin) - My professional dream almost came true. There is only one. I want to win the Champions League with Zenit. I think this year we got close to the goal. I also dream to see how my children will play professional football, I want them to make a beautiful career and to be appreciated.

Tell us how you spend an ordinary day. (Marina Klimova) - If my day off is a weekday, I take the children to school and spend time with my wife. We can go to the fitness centre together, then have dinner, go to the shops. If we have a free Saturday or Sunday, I spend more time with my sons. In any case I spend the weekend with my family.

Why do almost all arrive at Zenit match wearing headphones? Does music distract you from your thoughts or does it let you focus? What are you listening to? (Serge) 

Music helps me to relax, to calm down before the match. Everyone wears headphones, because everyone has different tastes. I like Spanish music, Latin and salsa. 

What is your most memorable goal?(Alexey Belov) 

My first goal for Zenit was in the match against Manchester United. It was my first game after only a couple of days of training, and was in the European Super Cup. Perhaps this is not my most beautiful my goal, but certainly the most important in my career.

Danny, why do you wear your socks so low? (Nikita Medvedev) 

Ha-ha, that's my style and it has been since I was 16 years old, I'm comfortable like this and now at the end of a career, I'm hardly going to change.

Have you thought what you will do after your career is over? (Kiril Gurenkov) 

I feel that I have two or three more years when I can still play football. When that time passes, I will start to reflect on what to do next.

Are there any ideal modern football players? What are the qualities they have, or should have, compared with just good players? (Lech) 

In addition to purely football qualities (technique, speed and the like), players need luck - it determines a lot. We need humility, the ability to listening and need character. As a result, many small parts add up to a good whole. A perfect player in football.... Maybe Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo. They have excellent technique, they are strong. They have everything you need in football.