Ivan Sergeyev came to “Zenith a little over a year ago, when Serdar Azmun and Artem Dzyuba were still in the squad. And now he is competing for a place in the starting line-up with Mateo Cassierra.
How did these thirteen months go for the striker in St. Petersburg, did he become his here, what would he like to achieve in the future and what sports does he still play? About this – in an interview with Sergeyev “”.
“Of course I want to score a hat-trick for Zenit
– The other day you worked on an individual program. What happened?
– The old injury made itself felt – the tendon became a little inflamed. But now everything is much better. It’s not such a serious injury that you can worry about. Everything will be alright.
– Exactly one year that you are at the Zenith. But the feeling is that in the team for a long time.
– On the one hand, there is also such a feeling, on the other hand, it is only a year. Certainly, I have already got used to the team and the supporters. In addition, this summer he won the first championship of his career and the Super Bowl.
– It turns out that this year has become special for you?
– In terms of trophies, of course, he is one of the best. I can write myself. But there is always something to achieve – you want to achieve more. Nevertheless.
How have you evolved as a footballer in one year?
“I definitely took something new. Also, you improve every year. On the other hand, it is not possible to score as much as before.
– It’s frustrating ?
– I always go to the field with the idea of helping the team. And when you win, that’s the most important thing, the first priority. Zenit victories are more important to me than personal achievements.
– And yet – in terms of technology, physics, did you stay the same or did something change?
– The higher the level of the team, the more effort you make to be at the maximum. At the same time, you can’t stop – you have to keep working.
– And on a human level?
– In this sense, I am the same every year – as they say, winter and summer (smile).
— During the year, you scored 14 goals in different tournaments. How would you rate the number?
– From the point of view of quantity, of course, I will say that it is not enough for me. But objectively, a normal result – we have what we have. Although, as I said, you always want more.
– Another statistical fact – in a year you have three doubles, which you scored in meetings with Lokomotiv, Krylya Sovetov and Sochi. Have you thought about Zenit’s first hat-trick?
“Of course I want to do it. Especially since I haven’t had them in the Premier League yet. We will try to do it in the spring.
– When you came to Zenit, you said you wouldn’t celebrate goals against Torpedo and Krylya Sovetov. As a result, both teams scored and kept their word. This only concerned the first year at the Zenith?
— The word remains in force. I started at Torpedo and at Wings, I was developing as a professional player. For me, these are not foreign teams. So most likely I won’t be celebrating goals against them in the near future.
“Competition does not interfere with a good relationship with Cassierra”
– When you came to Zenit, the team mainly played with two forwards. Now the scheme has changed – an attacker plays in front. Did it work for you or not at all?
“You can’t answer that question with certainty. It is first of all the vision of the technical staff. For me, it makes no difference to play a striker or two. Of course, it would be interesting to try to play with Cassierra together, like before with Yuri Alberto. But it depends on the ideas of the technical staff.
In any case, no one canceled the contest. Yes, we are fighting for a place in the first team, which does not prevent Mateo and I from being on good terms. And then whoever is the strongest at the moment will play.
– Since you and Cassierra almost take turns, does that mean you consider every appearance in the starting XI as an opportunity?
– On the one hand, yes. But when you’re a substitute, it’s also a chance. And in principle, the dedication is exactly the same as if you were playing from the first minutes. In any case, I do not divide playing time according to when I appeared on the field. No matter how many minutes I have, I try to use them as much as possible.
“Ovechkin is a phenomenal player – he will break Gretzky’s record”
– During the holidays, did you make sure that there was no excess weight at the start of the course?
– Certainly. Even if the first two weeks I did nothing, because I had to rest, first mentally. So I went to Dubai. Then, when he returned to his native Cherepovets, he began to study, compared the result, saw it – and went from there.
Are Dubai for holidays and Dubai for work different things?
– Yes. Turned out Dubai again and a bit fed up with them. But the collecting conditions here are excellent. And there are more opponents in the test matches than in Qatar.
– If you knew the training camp would be in Dubai, maybe you shouldn’t have gone there on vacation?
– Why not? Moreover, I liked it. There are beaches, the sea, there are places to take an excursion. Everything was great.
“Do you come to Cherepovets every vacation?”
– Of course! There parents, sister, two nieces, friends. Everything is here. Visiting home, seeing everyone – this, one might say, is inherent in me.
Cherepovets is a hockey town. Were you not a black crow who played football in your childhood?
– No. Of course, as a kid, I also wanted to be a hockey player. But it’s gone. Although I still love hockey. I watch it often. That’s true, especially for the NHL.
Ovechkin races towards Wayne Gretzky’s record. Alexandre is a phenomenal athlete?
“Otherwise, he wouldn’t have reached such a mark of efficiency. Recently I read how the shots of a large number of players were compared. Everyone has about the same, but Ovechkin, although by a small percentage, but he is different. Phenomenal, of course, throw. Or rather a click. I think Sasha will break Gretzky’s record. Like the other day in the NBA, LeBron broke Kareem Abdul-Jabar’s career record.
Do you also follow the NBA?
– Arrived. Here I read an interesting fact – people bought tickets for several thousand dollars to enter this game, then the news is that LeBron may miss this game due to an ankle injury, and end he scores 36 points in three quarters and only two in the fourth!
“I saw you wearing Durant’s Brooklyn Nets jersey. What’s the story of his appearance in your country?
– In Qatar, while walking, I saw – I liked it. We still have James and Curry T-shirts at home. I like the NBA and NHL format itself.
“Hockey jerseys from someone in the NHL too?”
– Only one – his compatriot Pavel Buchnevich. We personally exchanged at our home in Cherepovets – I gave him a Wings of the Soviets t-shirt, as I was still playing in Samara at the time. And that’s a New York Rangers jersey for me.
– Equivalent exchange?
– Compared to a football jersey, a hockey jersey is much bigger and heavier (smile). Somehow I met a citizen of Cherepov Shipachyov at the airport. He then did not go to the World Cup and returned home. We greeted each other and chatted a bit.
“Do you go to the Ice Palace for SKA matches?”
– Yes. I also like it very much.
“For me, the match with Loko will be ordinary, but for Artem Dziuba it will be fundamental”
– Artem Dziuba has moved to Lokomotiv. Will your April game with the railway workers be doubly important now?
– Personally for me – as with any team. But for Artyom, I think so, it’s a matter of principle. He played at Zenit for many years. But the main thing for us is not to pay attention to what is going to happen around this match, and to do our job.
— Share your expectations for the spring part of the season as a whole.
Two weeks before the start of the season. Now, it’s important that everyone plays good time in training camp and doesn’t get hurt. And there is the first match for the Cup in Ulyanovsk. Certainly, let’s see how the weather will be. And so far it is not known whether the Volga Stadium has been accepted or not.
– We are talking to you on the 25th day of training camp. Do you feel like they’ve been gone for a long time?
– Yes! Qatari passed quickly, and now, of course, I already want to go home. But we still have to wait a bit to finish the pre-season work. It’s in our interest – it will be easier in the season. So – we endure!
– Is there time at training camp to move on a bit?
– Free time, of course, also happens, but there is not much of it. Sometimes you can go to town, swim in the pool. But the fee is for this and the fee for getting in shape, working, and not resting.
– What type of holiday do you like the most?
– Lying down, including massage, procedures, bath (smile). And so – call relatives, friends, something to see.
Somehow I got around the hotel, reached the golf club. It was interesting to see how they hit those balls over 200 yards. Padel is also a nice subject. I played the big one, the office one too, but not this one. I’ll have to get together and try.
But I still spend most of my free time in the bedroom. After two workouts, it is better to regain strength.
The Russian football season will resume on February 22 with the matches of the FONBET Russian Cup. As part of this tournament, Zenit will play on the road with Ulyanovsk Volga on February 25. On March 3, the WORLD RPL draw will continue. Watch live broadcasts of the matches of the RPL and the Cup of the country on the federal channel “” and the thematic channels of the holding, as well as on the sites matchtv.ru and sportbox.ru
Source : MatchTV
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