How are the conditions for team training here in St. Petersburg now?
The conditions are fine for the time of year. The pitches in Spring have their issues. but our job is to prepare and play to the best of our capabilities. The conditions are the same for everyone.
Zenit played Ural at the winter training camp. What do you think of the updated side from Ekaterinburg?
I don’t think Ural have seriously updated their team, they have strengthened in some positions with players they signed, just like us. There are no surprises from us or Ural. Goncharenko knows our team very well, and we know Ural well too. Let's see, friendly games are one thing, but competitive matches are completely different. Both Zenit and Ural need the points to solve our problems.
The fans have reacted calmly to the draw with Spartak. How did you feel about the result?
It was not a bad quality game for the first match. We lacked some sharpness in attack, and we have looked at these moments and are working on them. As for any reaction, of course we want to win every match. A draw is a negative result for us and we’re trying to catch up with Krasnodar. But we can’t change that, we just have to prepare for the next match.
Is everyone fit and ready to take part in the match with Ural?
Yes, everyone is ready to play and is preparing for the match.
Have the team overcome any pressure they’re under, if they are under pressure?
I don’t think there is any extra pressure, because we are preparing for a competitive match as usual. Of course, at training camps there are matches under pressure, but now this is not the case. Perhaps we have to get used to the weather conditions, these are the pitches that we play on, and this make some time to get used to, especially for our new players.
