“It’s important to make the most of each day”: Sergeev and Chistyakov answered the questions from fans.

The Zenit players took part in the online conference sponsored by Gazprom.

“It’s important to make the most of each day”: Sergeev and Chistyakov answered the questions from fans.

For how many years do you have to play to become a footballer?

Sergeev: In childhood it’s just a hobby, but then you watch football on TV and realise that you want to achieve such results, so you set aims and objectives for yourself. While your fitness allows it, you’ll be a footballer.

Chistyakov: The realisation came to me when I moved to St. Petersburg and started playing football at the Zenit school, it was more serious than when I just played outside for fun. I was about 14 years old.

Have you ever had the thought that you weren’t going to become a footballer?

Sergeev: I think everyone had this thought. At these moments you just want to hide and never leave the house.

Chistyakov: I 100% had this thought. There are some unsuccessful moments when you just want to give up on everything.

Ivan, when and why did you stop being active on social media platforms, and should we expect your return? People say that without Ivan there’s no one to follow.

Sergeev: Why is there no one to follow? I don’t have the habit to post things on Telegram or on another platform, I’m not interested in that.

Dmitriy, you were the main defender in the team, and now you get little to no playing time. Do you know the reason and what are you planning to do about it?

Chistyakov: It happened that I got injured. We have healthy competition for every position. I got injured in the wrong time, so the other guys replaced me and did well, so now is their time. As for me, I have to keep working and wait for my chance.

Is it difficult to cope with it?

Chistyakov: It’s not easy, but it’s our job. We’ll handle it.

What types of sports do you watch aside from football?

Chistyakov: I watch a little bit of everything. I like watching ice hockey live, going to SKA games. I haven’t been to their arena this season yet, but I’m planning to, maybe I would go to their next match. I also like watching tennis, there was US Open recently. Generally I like football more, and I try to watch everything that’s being broadcasted.

Sergeev: I watch ice hockey.

Is there anything interesting going on in ice hockey?

Sergeev: SKA are undefeated at the moment, but AK Bars became stronger this year, I think they’re going to win considering their players and all the other criteria. I watch basketball sometimes as well, there was EuroBasket recently, and Spain won it. Dončić set a record 47 points.

Ivan, is Cassierra your teammate or competitor? What do you think about creating a duo like Azmoun-Dzyuba? Please don’t say it’s the manager’s choice.

Sergeev: How about that it’s the choice of the coaching staff then? (smiles) Of course he’s my teammate. We have healthy competition. He’s not scoring goals at the moment, but I think he will in the future. It happens in every forward’s career when they struggle and after a while they suddenly become very successful. Regarding our partnership, I don’t think we played together except for the match against Krylia Sovetov. I would like to play with him like I did with Alberto last season, but still, accept the answer that it’s the decision of the coaching staff.

Dmitriy, what’s your and Dejan Lovren’s relationship?

Chistyakov: We don’t talk much, just hello, goodbye and basic communication during training sessions. I don’t speak English, and he barely speaks any Russian, so we have a working relationship.

What music instrument would you like to learn to play?

Sergeev: Guitar. As it was in the old times, you go out to the yard and there is a group of friends hanging out and playing guitar, it’s pretty cool.

Chistyakov: I’d like to learn to play the guitar too. I think it’s great for gatherings when you’re with friends and there happens to be a guitar there, you can show your skills and make people smile.

Ivan, when was the last time you traveled to Cherepovets and when are you planning to go there next time?

Sergeev: I’ve been there recently, during the last break. Next time I’m going to travel there sometime around the New Years, when the vacation starts.

Do you read news and comments about yourself?

Sergeev: I stopped reading them completely. I used to read them and get stressed about it in the past, but now I just let go of the situation.

Chistyakov: I do read about myself sometimes, and I think everyone does that, as everyone is curious what people write about them online.

Was there something funny or offensive written about you?

Chistyakov: I can’t recall anything. I think Gennady Orlov said something a bit negative, that I’m bad at tackles or something along the lines.

Sergeev: Then you learned how to tackle (laughs).

Barrios said that there is no team that could compete with Zenit for the title. What do you think?

Sergeev: I think there is. Who? All 15 teams that are currently below us in the standings. Football is unpredictable, you can’t let yourself relax, you have to win every match, and only at the end of the season the winner will be announced.

Chistyakov: I think every team can compete for the title, but above all, we can create problems for ourselves if we won’t prepare mentally for the games and will be getting on the pitch unmotivated. Everything depends on us, and if we’re going to get ready and play like we did against Spartak (7-1) every game, no one can compete with us.

Do you have any dreams or aims aside from football?

Sergeev: Everyone wants to learn a new language, and I’m not an exception. I want to travel more as I didn’t travel anywhere for vacation, only for training camp, so I’d like to start doing that, we’ll see how that goes. I would also like to play ice hockey.

Chistyakov: I’d like to learn English. Sometimes it bothers me that I can’t communicate even with some of my teammates who speak this language, so I want to learn it. While I’m a football player I want to put my all into football. Though I do want to learn English. I’m not doing anything to achieve that now, but I plan to take some courses.

Who is the most difficult defender to play against in the Russian Premier Liga?

Sergeev: When I played for Krylia Sovetov against Zenit, they played with five defenders, and Barrios was active in that zone. He’s the most difficult to play against.

What’s the most unpleasant thing to deal with in his play style?

Sergeev: Tackles and the way he reads the game.

Chistyakov: Tackles. He’s like a dog, but in a good sense, he just follows you and bites you.

Who is the most difficult forward to play against in the league?

Chistyakov: I didn’t play much this season, so I’m going to judge by the last one. For me it was Córdoba from Krasnodar, he’s very persistent. Also Smolov as he’s unpredictable and his technique is good. He has the skills to outplay you, he’s not just running and shooting, all of his qualities are decent and he has a nice shot as well.

Tell us a story about your dogs.

Sergeev: I had a dog in Cherepovets. I remember my dad really wanted a dog, and my mum said that we weren’t going to get one since we lived in an apartment. Then my sister, dad and I bought a German Shepherd, brought her home, she sat down at the entrance, mum opened the door and… everyone just fell in love with her. She lived with us for 15 years, but she was attached only to dad. She would eat only when dad was home, if someone else put food into her bowl, she would just walk up, sniff it and walk away.

Dmitriy, how many dogs do you have?

Chistyakov: Currently I have one dog and three cats. We gave two of our dogs to parents, because we live in a one-room apartment and getting some repair work done in our big apartment now. As soon as it’s done, we’ll move there and will take the dogs back.

Do you watch the Champions League, which matches and who is the favorite in your opinion?

Sergeev: Of course I watch it, I guess mostly Manchester City. It’s nice to watch Haaland play, especially for me as a forward. I think Haaland will outperform everyone in terms of goals and game. He’s a goal machine. His goals are like tennis balls being shot out. Regarding favorites, I’d say Manchester City and Real Madrid.

Chistyakov: I watch everything, both the RPL and the Champions league. Football broadcasts usually start at 10pm and the matches are at the same time, so I choose the most interesting one. Usually it’s on Match TV, so I watch it on that channel. I think this year the leaders are PSG. The most logical scenario would be PSG or Manchester City. Liverpool are not at their best, but they can improve. Real Madrid are the way they always are, they can take the lead at any moment, and Barcelona can do that as well. I’m just thinking out loud, but in my opinion it’s going to be either PSG or Manchester City.

Spartak are considered Zenit’s main opponent, however the competition with Dynamo has been way more challenging in the past few years. Which team is the main opponent for you personally?

Sergeev: It gives us extra motivation, because it’s a derby of two capitals. I’d say it’s Spartak as there is more tension between the teams, and we’re especially determined before getting on the pitch.

Chistyakov: I personally don’t have a main opponent. You have to prepare mentally for every game, and we can lose only to ourselves. It’s probably Spartak, but mostly for the fans…

What do you think about arranging a Russian Premier Liga all-star game?

Sergeev: We don’t have that many matches at the moment, and there are no UEFA Competitions, so it’s a good idea.

Chistyakov: I think it would be cool. There are not that many matches, no UEFA Competitions. We play in the league and in the Cup, but if we decided to play at the end of the season, why not. It would be great for fans.

Do you follow media football? Would you be interested in assembling your own team?

Sergeev: I don’t follow media football, I’m not into watching it. I only watched the Russian Cup when 2Drots played against Tekstilshchik.

Chistyakov: I don’t really follow it, but my friend made a team recently, so that brought me a bit closer to media football. He was asking me to help him find the players, we were talking and he was telling me that Winline was helping him. I’m not very familiar with media football, I only know the things that my friend is telling me. I myself don’t watch it and don’t follow it.

When was the last moment when you were happy?

Sergeev: Every day. It’s important to get the most out of each day. If you’re sad, it’s only going to make things worse for you.

Chistyakov: I was happy recently when I visited my relatives on the weekend. I wouldn’t say that I haven’t seen them in a long time, maybe in two months. So I was happy to be surrounded by my relatives.