Defender of the blue and whites Dmitry Skopintsev spoke about the importance of the upcoming match with Zenit, the changes in the team that took place over the winter and his thoughts before the anniversary game in the T-shirt of his native club.
– The team made it to the RPL Path Finals for the first time. Did you support someone in the second semi-final of CSKA - Krasnodar?
– No, because these are teams of equal strength. We accepted the opponent who deserved this right, and now we are tuning in to him. But now all thoughts are about the next game.
– Considering the latest results of the official games with Krasnodar, will a victory at the training camp, even in a friendly match, give you confidence?
– I think so. When I returned to Dynamo, we had a period when we beat them for several years in a row. Then it was replaced by a period when, on the contrary, Krasnodar began to win. I hope that now our white streak will begin again.
– What has changed in our team in the winter that it gave such a start this year?
– Tremendous work has been done on all aspects: emotional, physical, technical. Our team has been transformed from the inside, and due to this we started the spring well.
– Rolan Alexandrovich called Dynamo football not a festival, but a balanced one. Can we already say that we have found this notorious balance between attack and defense, which has been lacking in recent years?
– I think that one word cannot describe our style. We give more importance to the result. We understand that you can play beautifully and very brightly, but the most important thing in football is winning.
– Experts also note the psychological component that the team, gaining an advantage, confidently and calmly controls the game.
– When we start the match with confidence, then we already feel that we will not let it go due to faith in each other and in our qualities.
– In all the spring matches you made it into the starting eleven, does the coach's trust inspire you? Has your game somehow changed under Rolan Alexandrovich?
– Thanks to the coach for the trust. I always try to work honestly to earn it. Yes, he corrected some points related to my play in positional attack and defense. But in general, he asked me to keep my style, always be concentrated and give out my level.
– Many people have always associated your style with beautiful dribbling, piercing between the legs of an opponent and quick connections on the flank. Now we can say that the toughest game with the opponent in defense has been added to it?
– Yes, I try to combine a technical, beautiful style in attack with rigidity in defensive actions and aggression in the selection of the ball.
– There are more and more Brazilians in the team – is it easy for you to play with them, given your great technique?
– We have a technical team as a whole, and the presence of Latin Americans in it further enhances this effect. Therefore, I am pleased to interact with them on this technical note.
– There is an important game ahead with Zenit, will there be enough emotions for it after the derby?
– It will be a very important match, so there is no need to tune in to Zenit in addition. There will be full stands, a bright signboard, so we will have maximum focus. We want only one thing - victory. We will burn with this desire.
– Is there a clear priority of the Cup now, where there are three matches left before the trophy, over the championship, where it will be very difficult to reach the medals?
– There is no clear division. There is an understanding that it is probably possible to achieve maximum success in the Cup - the road is really shorter there, but the opponents are the most difficult. I think the year started so well for a reason. I hope luck will smile on us, and the football god will see our efforts, efforts and zeal.
– This game will be extraordinary for you, also because it will be the 200th for Dynamo. How do you feel when you think about it?
– This is a colossal figure. Time is very fleeting. I am very glad that I had the opportunity to play so many matches in such a great club. Probably, this speaks about my stability, a certain level and the fact that I always want to remain the right player in order to play the maximum number of matches. Everyone knows what the fans and all the players, including me, dream of doing something meaningful to stay in the history of the club.
– Who will you dedicate the anniversary game to?
– I dedicate it to my beloved women: mother, grandmother and sister. I would also like to dedicate this date to my daughter, since she was born just when I joined Dynamo. She was my inspiration. I have become more responsible both in life and on the field. I am happy to spend a lot of time with her, she watches all the matches on TV and really wants to take me on the field by the hand. Thank you to her for her support, I am sure she will be very pleased.
– Does any of these 200 matches stand out?
– There were many bright moments, but I won't single out any one match. We all expect that this most memorable match from a positive point of view will happen in the near future.
– If you type the phrase " Skopintsev's beautiful goal" into the search engine, then three goals are the first in the output: Spartak in 2020, Rubin in 2023, and the goal from the distant 2014 that you scored for Zenit against Benfica in the Junior Champions League. Which one will you put in the first place?
– I would put the ball not from this list, but the one that I scored against Zenit when I equalized the score in December 2021. We did not let them go far in the table and went on a winter break on the second line.
– Only Daniil Fomin is ahead of you in terms of matches played, with whom you are always somewhere nearby: you came in the same year and now you have played the 200th match in the same month. Who will get to the number 300 faster?
– Dania and I have a lot in common, we communicate closely and always spur each other to stay in our best version and shape. We always tell each other about recovery methods, we draw something from each other. I am always happy for him, and if he gets to this figure first, then I will be happy, but I will also try to play as many matches for our club as possible.
– You were also born on the same day. Do you know which of you is older? Who was born earlier?
– I was born early in the morning, and he said that a little later, so I'm a couple of hours older.