Andre Villas-Boas Q&A: The full interview

The full and final interview with the departing Zenit boss as published in the Zenit matchday programme.
You have such a wonderful family, but you keep that side of your life very quiet. Why are they not in St. Petersburg? (Sveta Vasileva)

Everything was decided after we left London. We did not want our children to have to learn another new culture, so we decided that the family would be better off staying in Portugal. We sent them to the international school there, so they've learned English and are ready to move around, but then we did not want to dive into a new world so quickly. After Tottenham we spent three months at home and then I went to Russia and we believed that after some time, they would all come to St. Petersburg, but at school my daughters were doing so well that we decided otherwise. They would have taken well to Russia of course, but my wife and I decided that it would be better in Portugal for them. My daughters are now 7 and 6 years old, and my son will be a year soon, on the day of the match with Lokomotiv on the 15th. 

How would you rate your time spent at Zenit?(Sanya Arnautov) 

It has been a great time, I have really had a great time. Firstly, the culture, Russian culture. Its Patriotic but fair. People here are either black or white in their attitude - no gray, no one is trying to pretend to be something they are not, people here aren't hypocrites. It was Immediately clear to me how to relate to you. You give respect and take respect well. I liked other points too, the way society works. Russians teach children to spend as much time as possible out of their home, and I cannot help but reflect on how you live. Russians love nature, love to go out and the cold is not a problem. The restaurants are always full of people. And of course, the city, it is the most beautiful of any I have known. But on the other hand, during these two years the distance between me and my family grew, so I have decided to go back and take a break for a year.

I'm almost convinced that the in the Russian Championship, Zenit's biggest problem is themselves. The 4-1 victory over CSKA Moscow, confirms that we are potentially the strongest of all and should always be in first place. What prevents this? (Alex) 

This season is really pushing forward the moments when we have to ask ourselves certain questions. Last season, it was a little different, we completely dominated. Yes and CSKA challenged us a few times, but we really were the best. This season we all played better in attack, scored a lot, raised our quality, but at the same time and made a lot of mistakes. We played too many draws at home against those we were supposed to beat Ufa, Mordovia and the defeat by Krylia. These matches cost us important points. And yes, of course, we have to blame ourselves first. Because I think most of the time, we were the best in the league.

What do you like most about Russian football and what will miss? (Alexander Polyakov)

I will miss the competition and the intrigue. It is because of this we are now having a difficult time. Look at Spain there has always been just two teams there and now you can add Atletico. In the French Championship, in League One there's only one club. In Germany and in Italy it's the same. Yes, in England everyone is surprised by Leicester, but if you look at the recent past, it was usually dominated by Chelsea, Manchester United or Manchester City. In Russia there are 5 or 6 teams that compete for the title, Spartak, Lokomotiv, Rostov, Krasnodar and of course, Zenit. And this is good. This gives the league excitment. I will not pay much attention to other problems, because I've had a great time here. But it is clear that changing the rules a week before the championship was nonsense. And then, again, we need only to blame ourselves for the fact that we allowed it to happen. But otherwise I have really enjoyed it. Yes, sometimes in the stadiums there weren't so many fans and soon many clubs will get new large arenas, which will need to be filled. If you don't have full stands now, what will happen then? But the Russian championship is really good, and it is interesting to work. We can also talk about the variety of tactical teams.Some teams here likes to hold the ball, some like to counterattack, It's also part of the challenge of league. Of course, I'll miss it and everyone here. I will miss the players and the people who brought me to the club. Mr Dyukov, Mr. Miller and Mr Maxim Mitrofanov have always fully supported me. Unfortunately, when I first arrived, we had some limitations due to the financial fair play rules, which affected our hopes of creating something really big. We were forced to take a break. Yes we got Javi Garcia, Garay and Mogilevets joined us, but this year we have also grown with Mauricio, Dzyuba, Kokorin, and Zhirkov. In general, I'm going to miss the people and the club. It was a great time.

Who are the other teams in the Premier League that are the most difficult for you? What Zenit match was the most memorable? (Maxim)

The 5-2 against Spartak, this game I really remember, the 2-1 against CSKA Moscow in last year, this had the same strong emotions. Victory over Valencia away, because it was a difficult moment. Lokomotiv after that we officially become champions, you know, the victory that meant we can put the star above the arrow. These were pleasant moments. But opponents ... It was always difficult to play in Chechnya, although the match this season was absurd, this should not have happened. But probably the most difficult opponents were CSKA. Our direct competitor. They have always created problems for us. 

Could Zenit win the Champions League in two or three years? (Vladimir Tolmachev) 

It is very difficult. We need to be realistic and being realistic means that certain moments of luck must be on your side. It is possible and this happened for Monaco. In Benfica before the quarter-final it was quite possible. The semi-final would little harder, because there you meet teams with great ability, including financial. It is also important to understand that the good performance up until the 1/8 finals shows that your team is on the move and in good shape. It is really worth paying attention to, the Russian clubs have always continued playing up until December, but then there's no games until February. This is absurd. If in December we can play in the cold, but in February having no matches is weird. This nonsense should be changed. If we started playing in the spring, it would mean that they will have ten extra days to prepare, which is very important.

Andre, there is a chance that you will come back? (Ilya Kuznetsov) 

I hope so. But that does not depend on me, it's up to the club. I will always want to return to St. Petersburg. I feel perfectly at home here, I like it here.

What is your main impression of St. Petersburg? (Nickolay Spring)

Such a bright city, April, May, June, this period is very beautiful. You feel that the sky is very close.

Could Oleg Shatov and Artem Dzyuba make it at a European club? (Vladimir Tolmachev) 

In Russia there are a lot of players who could play in Europe. But keep in mind that they are subject to certain risks in terms of adaptation.It's a long way from home, a different language. If you overcome these difficulties, things can happen. Many have succeeded - Karpin, Mostavoi, Kulkov. So this is possible, but it is a question of whether you are willing to take a risk.

Do you watch soap operas (Andrey Plotnikov) 

To be honest, not really. I watch a lot of documentaries, films, but not soap operas - very, very rarely.

I've been following your coaching career. In previous clubs you went to the game in a suit, and at Zenit in a tracksuit. Why's that? (Alexander Lysenko) 

I do not know. When we played the first match with Krylia Sovetov it was so cold that it was difficult to put on a suit. And besides, the club does not have rules regarding this and its easy to wear. 

What has been the most unusual event that has happened to you in Russia? (Rinat Batraev) 

I can't really say about this, but rather about my impressions. I like Sochi, Ufa, Kazan - all very beautiful cities. I would like one day to visit lake Baikal, but we don't know if that will happen this year. And I have a dream, a big dream to go to the place where Russia meets with Alaska. I know that this is not so easy, but I would like to.

What quality do you think are the most important for a successful coach? You've had two and a half seasons Zenit, what mistakes did you make? (Anton Andreev) 

Everyone makes mistakes. Sometimes we prepare the team in a certain way, but it does not work and I always say to the team- to the players, that such things are completely my area of responsibility. Sometimes you do something, believing that it will go well, but it turns out completely different. It's part of any coach. And if we talk about the qualities needed, I think that's something that we  cannot talk about here. All coaches are different. Some emphasises tactics, some motivation, there are coaches who are leaders just using their charisma, but are tactically inferior and of course, there are lucky-trainers, who work in a strong team with the best players.

What distinguishes Zenit from other teams?(Anton Andreev) 

I have always been received here with respect, even in the most difficult moment. I've been supported and allowed to work. The conditions and the people, everything has been good. I've really liked it. 

Andre, what will you miss at Zenit, its players, the fans? (Ilya Nemtsov) 

Yes. I'll miss the people. We've formed an excellent team and I hope that Zenit will only grow. The team is becoming stronger and stronger. We can already operate under the new restrictions that previously led to problems in the past. Of course, I would like to mention the fans. They have always been with us, wheter we won or lost. And soon Zenit will play at the biggest stadium, against us, it was difficult for everybody.

Will you have any memories from Russia in your Portuguese house? (Valera Ringo Starr) 

I will take some things with them, yes, including  the painting which the general director of the club gave me. It shows St. Isaac's Cathedral and it will take a place of honor in our home.