Anton Miranchuk: "I think we are moving in the right direction"

– After two wins in a row, we played with an advantage in St. Petersburg, where the score wasn't representative of the game. What have we improved since the opening games, and what still needs to be improved?

– We seem to be doing well: we have a good understanding, we have some scoring chances, but we're lacking execution—that final pass, luck, a rebound, some little things. Overall, I think we're moving in the right direction and we have a bright future ahead.

– What's changed overall since Sandro Schwarz arrived? How have you found working with him?

– I've heard a lot about him; I've been to training camp with him, and all his requirements were clear from the start. It's clear he's 100% committed to the work. He's a great emotional supporter and a positive force for the team, even when frustration sets in after losses. The work is going well, everyone understands what needs to be done and how we want to play.

– Many people say Schwarz's strength is his ability to find a common language with each player. Did he have any personal conversations with you?

– Yes, we had a conversation at the beginning of the season, before the game against Krylia Sovetov. We had a good conversation. I understood what he wanted, he heard me, and we shared our impressions. Sandro really does talk to everyone a lot—that's his hallmark.

– Sandro promotes aggressive, energy-intensive football. How easy is it for you to cope with his demands?

– Yes, he has serious demands in terms of pressing and counter-pressing, but it's important that everyone understands where to run, rather than moving individually. When you know what to do, you even expend less energy.

– In the match against Makhachkala, you scored a goal, putting the finishing touches on a difficult game. Do you miss scoring?

– Of course, goals give you momentum, a positive attitude, and faith that everything will be fine. I think there will be many more such moments ahead.

– After that game, you gave Alexander Ovechkin your jersey. Do you often swap jerseys after matches?

– Not often, although there were opportunities before, when we played in European competitions and had good matches with the national team. For some reason, it was always too much of a distraction, it's hard to explain. Although now I'd probably ask someone from the Brazilian, French, or Spanish national teams for a jersey.

– When Sandro first came over, Bella Ciao was always playing in the locker room after victories. What's been playing after victories this season?

– We've changed the song now and are playing Freed From Desire. Although it's already played frequently everywhere, so we probably need to come up with something of our own that everyone — Russians and foreigners alike — can dance to. I think when we have a winning streak, that song will come naturally.

– We have a cup match against Krasnodar coming up. Is it difficult to play two such big matches in three days?

– Of course, it's not easy, but we understand that the Cup is a very important tournament, and we also want to achieve success in it. Overall, August has been challenging for us, so we'll be preparing for a tough game. It's good that we're playing at home in front of our fans. This gives us confidence that the result will be good.

– Krasnodar stopped us one step short of the final last season. Are you feeling revengeful?

– Of course, we need to keep that in mind, but we still need to look ahead more. They've undergone changes and restructuring due to the departure of a major player. In any case, it'll be a tough game.

– Eduard Spertsyan has left the team, and Jhon Cordoba is without him at the start of the season. Is it a completely different team without them?

– Certainly different, but we've also got some good players. Everyone knows that no one is irreplaceable. In any case, they have depth. It won't be easy, but we also have a good squad, and we know what we want to play.

– We played a total of six official matches against the "Bulls" last season, and this season we'll have at least four – aren't you tired of playing them yet?

– For me, it's better to play big matches against strong teams more often when you know what to expect. You don't need any extra motivation, so those matches are even easier.

– The cup game will also coincide with our stadium's anniversary. What's your most memorable match at Dynamo?

– I always enjoyed playing at Dynamo; there was always a good atmosphere there. Igor Leschuk and I were just reminiscing about a match from 2019, when I was still playing for Lokomotiv and scored the winning goal. I believe there will be many more memorable, positive moments at this stadium ahead, now in a Dynamo jersey.