The blue and white forward Ivan Sergeev talked about the upcoming derby with Spartak, his play on the flank and the long-awaited goal in the Cup.
– The team has won three victories in a row. Can we say that we have already fully accepted the ideas of Sandro Schwarz?
– Yes, we fully understand what the coaching staff requires of us, but we always want more. There are always some nuances in the game actions, but I can say that everyone has become much more confident, and these victories are very important for the next step forward.
– You scored the first goal of the season. Worried that you couldn't distinguish yourself earlier? How do you react to such a series without goals?
– All episodes end at some point, but the goal really turned out to be long-awaited. Strikers are always expected to score goals, so I scrolled through this situation inside myself, but I always told myself that I would definitely score in the next game. The main thing is that my goal helped the team to win. It's good that I managed to do this in the Cup, where I caught up with Oleg Veretennikov and Alexander Sobolev on goals. It's like a breath of air for me, so I hope there will only be more goals.
– Now you will continue to fight in absentia with Sobolev. Have you discussed this moment with him?
– No, we have never talked about this topic. My career is long, so I hope to play many more matches in the Cup and update the record. And who will score more, we will already discuss after the end of our career.
– This season you have played several times on the flank, how comfortable are you to act there?
– When I joined Strogino at the age of 18, I played there both on the left and on the right, so I am familiar with the requirements. Plus, in the national team I was sometimes put on the edge. So there is an understanding of how to act there. I will play where the coach puts me.
– After the match, Sandro separately noted the importance of the fact that all the strikers scored before the derby. Will it add confidence before the game with Spartak?
– Goals always give confidence, and some kind of load has definitely fallen off. And Kostya didn't succeed at the beginning of the season, then he scored two for Rodina and now for Akhmat, Yarik and I didn't score for a long time. Therefore, this should add confidence not only to us, but to the whole team, because during the winning streak it is always easier to recover and prepare.
– Kostya said that there are cheesecakes on the fart before the matches. Do you have any such product or ritual?
– There is no specific dish, but I always try to prepare for the games in the same way. I don't have my own chip yet, maybe I'll come up with something else in the future.
– Have you watched Spartak matches this season? What can you say about the opponent?
– I watched their match with Zenit. Spartak has a good team, they have improved with the arrival of a new coach, won the Russian Cup. A running team, good performers, but I believe in our team. Sunday's match will judge everyone.
– Ezequiel Barco has missed the last two matches and may not play on Sunday. Are they different teams with him and without him?
– He is the leader of Spartak and one of the key figures, and probably they will rebuild the game in his absence. But this is their problem, we do not pay attention to it, we are preparing on our own.
– Kevin Kuranyi, one of the best Dynamo scorers in Russian history, will be present at the match. Do you remember his game in Russia?
– Of course, I remember his game in Russia, the Bundesliga and for the German national team. This is a top striker. I think it will be interesting for him to watch the derby, in which he once took part. He will worry about us and support us, maybe even go to the locker room after the match.
– During your career you have played the most matches against Spartak. Can you call him the most principled rival?
– For the team, this is definitely the most important opponent, as this is the oldest derby. As for me, I tune in to all the matches the same way. The main thing for me is to win.
– Do you have a favorite goal against the red and white?
– There were only three of them, and all my favorites. Two for Zenit, when he scored from afar in the Super Bowl and a year later he won the championship in the 92nd minute. And, of course, when last December he scored for Dynamo in the last match of the year.
