How did you feel when you scored the winning goal against Maccabi? (Alex Kolyadin)
It was an incredible feeling, it is difficult to describe it! I was still confident that I could score, even after I missed the chance with the one-on-one, I said to myself, “Calm down, you’ll get a chance, just be ready for it" and in the end it happened.
Luka, why sometimes you don’t pass to your team mates when they are in a better position, like in the match against Maccabi When you didn’t pass to Giuliano. (Dmitry Shevtsov)
The same situation may look completely different, on the TV and on the field. At that moment I glanced at Giuliano several times, looking back at that moment, it was not so easy to pass the ball. There were three players and I couldn’t simply pass. Also, I went one-on-one with the goalkeeper, I was about 12 yards from goal and in an ideal position to shoot. Yes, I just missed the target and didn’t hit it as I’d wanted to into the corner, but I think I made the right choice. Of course, I am always focused on the goal, but if I am sure that my team mate is in a better position, I’ll always give him the ball.
It’s the second time this season you’ve scored the winning goal after the team’s been behind. How do you do it? (Paul Kondrashov)
It's hard to say. Of course, it’s always a pleasure to help the team. It does not matter if you start or come on as sub, you have to give everything one hundred percent. I understand that I play at a big club, which brings together a lot of great players and has the highest competition for places. I am grateful to God for being able to score winning goals at two very important games. I hope there will be many more. Mr Lucescu trusts me, and in turn, I work hard in training and play in a way that justifies that trust.
What did Lucescu say to you before he brought you on as substitute in Netanya? (Egor Kapralov)
He just asked where I wanted to play, on the right or to the left flank. I chose the left, there I am a little more comfortable, nothing else. By that time the score was already 0-2, then they scored the third ... I can only say that even then we believed that all was not lost, we needed to fight after I came on. The main thing was to score the first goal. This game was very untypical, even conceding three goals, we did not lose our heads, we went on to pressure on them and forced them to make a mistake. Zenit is a great club and no matter what the score is, everyone here must play until the final whistle. This can affect the games in different way, a 3-0 defeat and a 3-2 defeat are not the same thing.
How have the team responded to the demands of the new manager? (Alex)
We train hard and that work in training is paying off: in the last four games (The interview took place before the match with AZ Alkmaar - Ed) we’ve scored 16 goals. In this football style of football, we create a lot of chances, we try to dominate on the field. So I'm happy.
Are you ready to become a future star of the Montenegro team and will you get to the World Cup in Russia in 2018? (Paul Nekrasov)
It’s always very important in the first match. At the start of the qualifying games, we drew with Romania, one of the two strongest teams in our group. Montenegro played well in this match, we defended well and had several chances on the counterattack, a draw was absolutely right. We have two games ahead of us, after those I’ll be able to say more about our chances. We have to beat Kazakhstan at home and try to get a positive result in Denmark. Everything is possible. As for me, I believe in our team. I hope I can soon prove myself in the national team and I really want to get to the World Cup in Russia.
What is the main motivation for you in football? (Arthur)
Success. I'm one of those guys who is always hungry to win. Day after day, match after match, I try to get better, to win on the field and off it.
Some say that Russia is not a football country, is Montenegro? (Serge)
Most of the people love football. Matches have a large audience, both in stadiums and on television. But we are quite successful in water polo, basketball and handball. Generally, Montenegrins love sport, but football is probably the number one sport.
Do you have any favourite writers? (Dasha Piterskaya)
I love to read! My favourite author is Carlos Ruiz Zafon.
In recent years, you’ve had time to play in various European championships. What did you get from this experience as a person and as a footballer? (Serezja Gray)
When I first came to Zenit, I was 18 years old. I was a young player from a small club and a small country. I moved to a serious team at the highest level so it was hard. When you are just starting your career, the main thing for you is match practice. These loans are needed, now I'm back at Zenit I’m a completely different player and person. I’ve became stronger, more mature and I’ve acquired some great experience. Perhaps during these loans some Zenit fans have forgotten about me, but now I'm back and I will prove that I can be useful to the club.
Tell us about your loan periods in Italy, Holland and Spain. What do you remember? (Vova Fedotov)
Let's go in order. The first loan was in Holland, was probably the most difficult period in my career. At first the coach said that he believed in me and that soon I would get more playing time and become one of the key players, but that did not happen. It was very difficult to repeatedly stay out on the left, I could not live with it. At Sampdoria I went there at the end of the transfer window, so missed out on pre-season training with the team so had get in shape during the season and learn to adapt to their style of play. There I had some good matches, but also not to say that everything went well. In Spain at Ponferradina, the coach was personally interested in me, that's always important, you feel confidence. Probably, the loan in Spain was the best for me, I made many friends there and played alot. Unfortunately, we was not able to stay in division and went down to the third division. It was very disappointing, we felt a responsibility to the fans and it's a small town, where everyone supports the team. I really hope that one day Ponferradina will return to its former glory.
Are you recognised on the streets? (Thank Mironov)
Yes, now I am. Some simply look in passing, sometimes people greet me, someones people take pictures and ask for autographs. Does it bother me? Absolutely not, on the contrary, I am very pleased. I don’t know, maybe for Totti, who can’t go out due to his great popularity, and it is a problem, but it’s not for me.
Luka, do you have a favourite place in our city? What city was at the heart of your career? (Mariana Andreeva)
Recently, in an interview I said that my favourite place in St. Petersburg is home and the training base. Ha ha. Probably as I haven’t learned my way around St.Petersburg yet, I haven’t visited the attractions, but I will corrected this. If we talk about the towns where I played, the most memorable is Genoa. It’s a beautiful city, good weather, a very convenient location, only two hours by car from Milan.
Tell me about your family.(Sveta Vasilyeva)
My brother plays football in Montenegro, he is 25. My father in the past, was a sports journalist, now he’s retired. My mother is a fitness instructor. My girlfriend is studying in Montenegro are for two weeks she was with me in St. Petersburg. What can I say, I have a big family, I am a happy man!
What goal in your career is the best for you? (S. Valera)
At Ponferradina one of my goals was recognized as the best of the season. Probably the highlight for me. But the goal against Maccabi is perhaps in the first place. The way we won makes it special.
Who in the team are your friends? (Sasha Andreev)
I have a great relationship with all the guys in the team. I talk with Jovanovic a little more than most, but at Zenit there are no problems with communication, there’s a great atmosphere on the field and beyond.
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