You grew up and started playing football in Stavropol, can you tell us about your younger years?
My father introduced me to football. There was no age group for me at Dynamo Stavropol, so I played with guys one or two years older, we’d train in the day or evening depending on when the guys could. Until I was ten I didn’t play football, I tried everything else, I went swimming, did track and field, played basketball, volleyball and even tried singing! But eventually I realised that I want to be only a football player. My father used to play and he saw my potential and the coaches were able to see something too, so my choice was not too difficult.
In childhood, a year or two is a big difference. Was it tough for you?
Not really, at 7 years of age you do not play that much, you mess around more. I was playing with guys aged 8 or 9 and this was more of a plus for me, I quickly learnt to add to my skills. Closer to the end of training I was training with guys a year older than me and there I stood out and scored a lot of goals. It always happened that most of the guys in the team were older than me, but then I joined Lokomotiv Moscow.
You were 15 when you moved to Lokomotiv Moscow?
Actually 14. Of course, when you just move to another city, it’s not easy, leaving your family, changing your way of life. I really missed my parents and living alone really affected my studying at school. When you are not controlled, it's harder to force yourself to do it and so it was hard. But my father often came to Moscow and he talked to me a lot. His support helped me to overcome a difficult period and get used to the changes. After I spent about a year in Moscow, I clearly understood that I had only one goal, to improve as a player and to become a real professional. I did not think of anything else and school also fell into the background, everything did, entertainment, girls, all that interested me was football.
Were you friends with Alexander Kokorin at Lokomotiv Moscow? Did he stand out even then?
Yes, as kids he was considered the main star of his age. But when I arrived, there was an interesting situation. Sasha went away somewhere, to some kind of competition, or home, I’m not sure. I started training, playing and scoring, one of the guys said: "Look, this guy is better than Kokorin! We must keep him!" I cannot say that we were directly best friends or shared a room, but we got on very well.
There is an interesting photo on the Internet with a young you and Kokorin with Roberto Carlos, was it taken at the Brazil v Russia match?
Yes, we were ballboys and after the match we decided to take a picture. There is another similar photo somewhere with Cristiano Ronaldo. I met many stars with my our own eyes, but for me it was something incredible, then we could only dream of growing up and playing in the Premier League, not to mention the national team. We saw lots of players and looked at them as idols and it was great to try and get a picture and to try and get a shirt or some gloves!
Were you successful?
Hardly ever. Maybe some gloves. I wasn’t really running after them, but it was nice to just take a photo.
Do you often exchange shirts after the game?
Honestly, no. Even when I played in the Champions League I haven’t wanted to. Only against Manchester United I swapped shirts with Mkhitaryan, I was taking my drugs test and we crossed paths.
How about your time with Rostov? Did you manage to play your best football there?
It didn’t happen for me there instantly, the first year was a difficult one: I played only occasionally, but then the coach began to trust me more. I improved gradually and began to score. The biggest jump happened under Mr. Berdyev. he saw my best qualities and began to develop them.
What do you consider to be your biggest achievement before moving to Zenit? Which match is the most memorable?
I’ve said before in an interview with Rostov, I’ve had quite a lot of achievements. The Russian Cup, Runner-up in the league, at that time the club and the city was having great success. Then the European games, against Bayern Munich, Atletico Madrid and Ajax. To highlight just one thing is very difficult, that time was like a fairy tale, like a childhood dream that came true.
One of the factors in your transfer to Zenit, according to your own words, was Roberto Mancini. Has he justified your expectations?
Yes, of course. Mr. Mancini is a coach of the highest level. Perhaps now I am not playing that often in the first-team, but I can’t say anything bad about Mr. Mancini. He only looks at your ability and puts out the strongest team at that moment. If I can prove my right to a place in the team, then I will play more often.
You’ve worked with another Italian manager, Fabio Capello, is he like Mancini?
Italians are very impulsive, emotional, bright people, in this they are different from us. The other coaches I worked with were also impulsive, but not as much. If Capello did not like something, he reacted very harshly, he would scream! The main similarity between them is that discipline is first. It is believed that the Italian style is defensive football, but I do not quite agree with this. Although at Zenit, defence is at the forefront, we attack a lot and score.
What is the highlight of Mancini's training?
I will not say anything original, Mr. Mancini’s training is very intense. When I first came to the team, for the first month I couldn’t feel my legs, it was so intensive. We often train before the game. After the match we have classes, which are usually about helping us recover, are also very intense. Perhaps, this is the main difference from what I have experience with other teams. But this work is bearing fruit.
In recent matches, Zenit have significantly rotated the team, but the team are still winning, is this all down to training?
Yes, the training process is doing it. We have top-level players and players do not need a lot of time playing together to form some kind of connection. We just go out on the pitch and feel the connection with each other.
Are scoring goals and getting assists the same for you?
Now I probably assist more than I score, it all depends on the situation. If I’m up against the goalkeeper and a player is next to me in a better position then I'll always pass. The team for me comes first.
How are you finding life in St.Petersburg. Where do you live? Is your family with you?
Yes, from day one my wife and son have been with me. We quickly found an apartment, so we moved quickly.
Your little son is very young, has he already shown an interest in football?
He is 2 years and 7 months old. When I'm at home we play with some small balls and chase them around the house. Now, he likes drawing very much. Recently he started kindergarten, the teacher says he has a talent for art.
Are you going to take him to football in the future?
He will make the choice himself, but I think that he will have a good sporting future. We can see he’s into sports. First of all, I want him to grow up a good person, so that he will be kind and everything else will follow.
You come across as a humble person, unlike some other players. Is it difficult being in the public eye for you?
I believe we should all be modest. I do not like to do PR, to expose my life for show or to be photographed, but chatting with people is absolutely not a problem.
What are your plans in football for the near future?
Of course, my main goal is to play at the home in the World Cup, to become a main player for the team. To do this I want to gain a regular place in the Zenit team and show the coach that I'm ready 100%!
