Blue and white defender Leon Zaydenzal spoke about his path to big football, attitude to mistakes and the players who inspire him.
– You've been in the team for a long time, but the fans don't know much about you yet. Tell me, how did your passion for football begin, which turned into a professional career?
– As a child, like everyone else, I ran in the yard. When I went to karate, the coach gave us 10-15 minutes to play football as a warm-up. I really liked it, and then I was enrolled in the football academy – the municipal team of our city (Krasnodar). I studied there until I was 14, when I was called to Dynamo after we won the Russian Cup.
– With what feelings did you go to the capital at such a young age?
– It was very hard, I missed my home and my family, who also had a hard time letting me go. I got into a new team where I had to put myself right. There were no problems with this, and now I am where I am.
– The captain of the team, born in 2004, Oleg Donskov, called you the smartest in the team. Did you study well?
– I have never had any problems with my studies, but rather it is due to my ingenuity, rather than some outstanding mental abilities. I always knew how to negotiate something or build communication with teachers. You can be smart in different ways: you can just memorize, or you can find some moves that will help you get good grades.
– The academy's website even posted your selection of books, where there was, for example, Hamlet. Where does such a love for literature come from?
– I wouldn't say that I'm a big fan of literature, but I can borrow a book in my spare time. Now I'm reading "Rich Dad, Poor Dad" by Robert Kiyosaki. I usually read 10-15 pages a day for general development.
– You said that you were named after the main character of the legendary movie "Leon", played by Jean Reno. What are your favorite actors?
– I like Chris Hemsworth, who played Thor. As a person like Dwayne Johnson – always positive, joking, laughing. They have a great tandem with Kevin Hart – both are funny, sociable, behave well in public.
– Let's get back to football: at the age of 18 you made your debut for Dynamo-2, where you played more than 80 matches in more than three years. What did playing in the Second League and working under Pavel Alpatov give you?
– I can only say kind words about working with Pavel Alekseevich. It was he who received me at the age of 14, then our paths parted when he entered Slavisha Jokanovich's headquarters, but later fate brought us back to Dynamo-2. He gave me a lot of experience, under his leadership we achieved promotion to Gold. I felt a new level of tough struggle. There is no VAR in the Second League, the judges can't see everything, so the character is being tempered. For a young football player it is important not to be afraid of such a struggle.
– You were the captain of the second team for a long time. How did this experience change you?
– I was the captain in all the teams in which I played. I always try to communicate with partners, to suggest somewhere, to show my oratorical qualities. There have never been any problems in this regard – I did not hesitate to communicate with the coaching staff. In the second team, he served as a link between coaches and young players. At the training camp, I could bring everyone together so that everyone would relax and unite, because the team is being built not only on the football field, but also beyond it.
– You haven't played for the "Dynamo-2" for six months, do you feel that you have finally become a player of the main squad?
– Of course, it had to happen sooner or later. If I used to go down to the deuce games and move between teams, now I can say that I have taken this rather big step to a new level. The ball game is much faster here, there is much more responsibility and a higher level of struggle. I am learning from my mistakes and gaining experience that I could not get at Dynamo-2.
– Before you, only one player in Dynamo played at number 56. Why did you choose him?
– When the composition of the youth team was being formed, I asked for the third number, under which I used to play. But we have a "youth team", "Dynamo-2" and the main team are connected by numbers, and then Fabian Balbuena was playing under him, so the administrator gave me a free number. I haven't changed it since. After all, it's not the number that paints the player, but the player – the number, so I'll continue to perform under it.
– You've been a central defender for most of your career, now you regularly have to play on the right. How comfortable are you there?
– In fact, I got used to it a long time ago. Alexander Nikolaevich Kulchiy was the first to put me there when we played in the SFL and there was no right defender. Physical data allow me to do a lot of work, which I showed in training. I had a good game, and I even scored a goal. After that, they started putting me on the flank a little bit at a time. At Dynamo-2, we also didn't have a right defender for a while, and Pavel Alekseevich started playing me there. Now it's not a problem for me to play anywhere in defense, for which I thank him a lot, because he put me in different positions and my brain adapted.
– Which of the modern defenders are you following?
– I like how Trent Alexander-Arnold plays for Real Madrid: how he sees the field, what passes he cuts, how he comes out of defense – this is top class. When I look at him, it inspires me to stay after training and improve my qualities. I also like Ashraf Hakimi from PSG – fast, reliable, connects a lot to attacks. A very diverse player who can play equally well with both his left and right foot, can play the right striker if necessary.
– You were quite effective for a defender. In the match with Akron, I was close to scoring in the end when I saved the goalkeeper. Are you waiting for the debut goal for the base?
– Of course, I'm waiting, I really want to score. I always get upset when I can't do it. In the match with Orenburg, I also had a moment when I hit from the left. I always think about defense first, but if there is a chance, I always strive to distinguish myself. Sometimes even emotions prevent me from using my moment. So I am accumulating experience and then I will implement such opportunities more calmly.
– In this match, a penalty was awarded after your foul, before that there was an episode in Grozny – how do you react to such moments? How long do you sort them out, dig into yourself?
– It happens that I dig, but not always for a long time. My family, my girlfriend, the guys from the team help me – we talk, discuss these moments. Mistakes are part of football. Moreover, there were such penalties that at first Max Osipenko slipped in front of me, and I didn't have time to react, and in the match with Akron I just jumped out and fought for the ball. This is a huge experience, and there will be such situations, and there will be mistakes – the main thing is to learn from them and make them as little as possible. Thanks to the coaching staff for trusting me and letting me out on the field.
– The next match is with Sochi, which is in last place. Is it hard to find motivation for such games, given the tournament position?
– Each of us needs to get everything he has and give his best on the field, because we are playing for the great Dynamo club, for his and our reputation. No one wants to lose face. Fans come to the stands, relatives and friends look at us, so we need to play for them and for everyone who was around when we were on our way to big football.
– Most of the fans' thoughts are now focused on the return cup match in Krasnodar. Are they already talking about him in the team?
– We are moving from game to game, but, most likely, the thought is still sitting in our heads that on May 7 there will be a match of the season or even a match of life. But now we need to tune in to every next game and win so that we gain confidence before the game with Krasnodar, where we showed our best football and pleased the fans.
– With what feelings will you go to your hometown?
– It is clear that with pleasant feelings, since my parents and sister live there. I'm always glad to see them. But Krasnodar is not my hometown club for me, I haven't played for it, but it's still a very principled opponent that I want to beat and get to the Cup Superfinal.
