Longtime leader of the Russian national team, Dynamo Moscow captain Natalia Goncharova is enjoying another successful season. Now the 33-year-old volleyball player is the leader of the Russian championship in terms of performance, and her Dynamo has just won the Russian Cup and is in first place in the Super League.
– Dynamo haven’t had any titles since 2019. How do you feel now?
– I feel great joy! It doesn’t feel like three years, but ten years have passed, so long that we haven’t won any titles. A long-awaited victory, I am very happy, all the girls are very happy. In the final, it was not just a victory, but a great team victory. All the girls tried very hard, concentrated, spent a lot of effort, a lot of energy. We are very, very, very happy!
— Which match was the most difficult of the Cup?
All games are very difficult. And the first match against Dynamo Metar, when it didn’t go as well for us as it did with Lokomotiv. We suffered with Metar. In the final, I really had to tune in. As our coach said, today we had to play with emotions, in addition to volleyball, which we did.
– The coach said that in the final it will be psychologically easier for your team than in the semi-final. What do you think?
– I absolutely do not agree.laughing). Before the final, you also worry a lot, listen to yourself. You can both be fine and burn out. In any case, you must remain at the maximum of your concentration.
“It’s basically halfway through the season. How would you rate Dynamo’s performance over this period?
— I am satisfied, I rate our game as good. We showed a good result, won the Russian Cup, we only lost one game in the Russian Championship. It would be possible not to lose him, the feeling of the first part of the season would be even better. I think we are on the right track.
– Which opponent caused the most inconvenience, with whom was it the most difficult?
– They are the championship leaders. There were tough games with Dynamo-Ak Bars and Lokomotiv. And with “Leningradka” there was also a difficult long match, which we did not hold out for a bit and did not win.
– What was missing in the match against Leningradka? Dynamo bounced back from 0-2 in sets.
“We made a lot of mistakes ourselves. In this game, we couldn’t concretely show what we are training. The game just didn’t work.
– You played in this match, not being completely in good health?
“I just got out after being sick. Now a lot of people get sick, we often lose players because of it.
– In general, this season you often had to play in a painful state?
– Yes. Not only for me, but also for other Dynamo players – someone had injuries, illnesses. However, we are managing for now. We have an interchangeable team, everything is done well, faces these problems, there is always someone to come off the bench and play well. We can say that we have two equal teams and each contributes to the victory.
– You are now the Super League leader in points scored – 235 points in 11 matches. In general, is it important for you to be the first goalscorer?
— It can be a good bonus for the game and the results of our team. But Dynamo’s victories are more important to me. It sometimes happens that in the league, the top scorer is the one whose team takes 6 to 8 places. Such a realization, I think, is not so pleasant. In general, I did not know that now in first place in terms of performance. As we are now first in the table and I am at the top of the scorers list, it is of course nice. I don’t aim to be the best in the tournament in terms of performance. My goal is to benefit my team and lead it to victories.
– According to the results, in terms of play, are there any teams that have surprised you this season?
– Probably not, no one was so surprised. Lokomotiv players had health problems, so before the Cup final there was no such match when the two teams were on equal footing.
– What about the fact that Proton and Dynamo-Metar are now at the top of the rankings?
– Yes, the Chelyabinsk team is playing pretty well now, they are well staffed. It was difficult to play against them. The main thing is that we have beaten them both in the league and now in the Cup.
– Isn’t it surprising that the silver medalist of the last Russian championship “Uralochka” is now an outsider? 12th out of 14.
– It’s a surprise for me, yes. They are very well equipped, but for some reason the game does not suit them. On the other hand, these are not my problems, I will only look at my team. The main thing is that we have victories.
– Compared to last season, Uralochka lost only one leader – Ksenia Parubets, who moved to Lokomotiv.
– As their game shows, Ksyusha was a very important player for Uralochka. Parubets made 50% of this team’s game.
– Who do you consider to be Dynamo’s main competitors in the fight for Russian championship gold?
– In principle, all the same – Lokomotiv, Kazan Dynamo. Also, I will add Leningradka to this list. A good setter Bojana Drcea came to them, which greatly diversified their game. It became more difficult to play against Leningradka. Only Uralochka from the former leaders now looks worse, although maybe they will play better by the end of the season, we’ll see.
– What about the fact that Dynamo Kazan didn’t start the season very well? Now in sixth place, they lost to Sparta, who are far from the favourites.
– Kazan should not be ignored. They still have a good squad, a good experienced coach. They are able to show quality play, psychologically they are a solid team. We will continue to connect with Kazan in the most serious way.
– The New Year is coming. What do these holidays mean to you?
For me, it’s a family vacation. I came to the conclusion that I like to celebrate the New Year at home with friends, with loved ones. For me, this holiday is always associated with decorating the Christmas tree, a cozy atmosphere and delicious food. I like watching movies on New Years, taking walks when there is a lot of snow outside, lying in the snow, playing snowballs. The next New Year should be celebrated in the same way.
– That is, hanging out somewhere on New Year’s Eve no longer pulls?
– Absolutely not. Yes, in general, in principle, it does not shoot to drag (laughing). I’m more of a home person.
– What is your favorite New Year’s dish?
– It’s 100% Olivier, without that, nowhere. And so every year we try to change the rest of the dishes.
Do you like to cook for the New Year’s table yourself?
“Of course, I will definitely cook.
What’s the most unusual New Year’s Eve you’ve ever had in your life?
— The most unusual thing was on the train. I won’t go into details, but only once I had to meet New Year’s Eve on the train. It was very unexpected, such an interesting experience. Nevertheless, even in such an environment, it was possible to note along the way. We had delicious food, champagne, listened to music.
What is your most memorable New Year’s gift?
“Last year I received a cool gift that I really wanted – a record player, decorated in a retro way. I always liked it very much, finally I got it as a gift, and I’m getting high on it. listening to records. I immediately bought records, such quiet music.
– Which musicians’ records do you listen to?
Bob Marley, for example. Many records of the Soviet era, Alla Pugacheva. There are also modern artists – Sting, Enigma.
Do you like giving gifts yourself?
– Very well ! I enjoy giving gifts even more than receiving them. I guess I’m not very good at accepting gifts, I’m very worried right now. In general, gifts are a good thing.
Did you follow the World Cup in Qatar?
I didn’t watch the group stage. I started watching the deciding games of the playoffs. It was interesting for me to support a team considered weaker. Well done Morocco, they reached the semi-finals. I wanted them to keep surprising fans, and kind of a miracle happened. As a result, the miracle did not happen, two favorites reached the final – Argentina and France. In this confrontation, I was for Argentina. Personally, I haven’t rooted for Messi, I just like them more.
— Dynamo’s Cup victory coincided with Argentina’s victory. Are you going to watch the final?
– I won’t watch the tape for sure, but I don’t like football very much.
– Messi or Ronaldo – who do you prefer?
“I really don’t know anything about football. Judging from what I’ve read about Ronaldo, I like his serious attitude towards business, his fitness, just a professional with a capital letter. Yes, in general, I don’t I won’t put anyone first in the clash between Messi and Ronaldo, just let them show some great football and delight the fans.
Ronaldo cried when Portugal lost to Morocco in the quarter-finals. When was the last time you cried after losing your team?
– I try not to show my emotions in public, like Ronaldo. Apparently he’s more emotional. If certain emotions capture me, I can come into the room and get upset there, cry. In general, I am not very in tears, and it makes sense now to recall certain defeats.
– The National Olympic Committee of the United States has called for the admission of Russian athletes to the Olympic Games in Paris. But under a neutral flag and without an anthem. How would you rate such a statement by one of our main competitors?
– We have already gone through history with a neutral flag. For Russian athletes, the main thing now is to participate in international competitions. In any case, we will represent Russia, everyone will know where we come from. And the US NOC’s statement means nothing, nothing will change that. Americans can say what they want, but we’re still suspended. You should not pay attention to the fact that the rhetoric of our rivals changes.
That’s when we’ll really get back on the world stage, so we’ll all rejoice together and try to win again. I really hope that next year we will be able to participate in international competitions again, but it is not up to me, of course, but to Thomas Bach, who apparently gives recommendations to international federations.
Source : MatchTV
