Ulvi Babaev: "I'm looking forward to meeting Zenit, it's always nice to play with top clubs"

— In November, you made your debut for the Russian youth team. You scored three goals and an assist at the tournament in Kyrgyzstan, plus you were named top scorer. Would you call your debut ideal?

— I certainly wouldn't call it bad. It was a great start, a great opportunity to come to the national team, have a good tournament, and there were some awards. So, I was motivated to go out and produce results.

— How did you celebrate the trophy with the team?

— We celebrated after the game, sang something on the bus, it was fun.

— Is scoring a headed goal a special occasion for you? When was the last time you scored one?

— I think the last time was back in the academy, when I was playing in the Youth Football League. That's something rare. I got hit pretty hard with a pass there. I think I'd rather have scored with my foot than with my head. (laughs)

— Your quote after scoring a brace against Bahrain: "I got slightly offended, and you can't offend the little ones." What happened in that incident?

— Bahrain's number six went for a tackle, committed a foul, then arrogantly stood in front of me and watched until the end. Literally a couple of minutes passed, and I scored a goal. That's why I said after the match that you can't offend the little ones.

— In a recent interview, you said you didn't really follow football as a kid. What interests you?

— I prefer playing football. As for sports, I mostly watch highlights and really interesting matches, like in the Champions League. My other hobby is computer games. I used to play CS:GO, but I've almost stopped recently because I've got a family life. So, I play a little bit now and then.

— You were nominated for the First Five for the Best Young Player of the Year award. In which subjects did you get A's most often?

— My studies are a thing of the past, so it's hard to say. I never had any D's, though. You could say I was a B student.

— Tyukavin won the First Five award two years ago, Gladyshev finished fourth last year, and now it's your turn. You've played with this attacking trio a few times. How was it playing with them?

— We have a youth connection, meaning I understand how Tyuka and Yarik will play. I followed them when they were still playing at the Academy in 2003, so I have an idea of ​​what they'll do and how they'll play.

— It was your trio that made the difference at the end of the first leg of the quarterfinal against Zenit. Would you call that match ideal in terms of the quality of play?

— It was a great game, in which everyone had a huge desire to win and gave it their all. It was a very important match for us, and this result is a credit to all the players.

— The return leg on Thursday will probably be your most important match at home. How are you looking forward to it?

— I'm really looking forward to it because playing against top clubs is always a pleasure. Only by playing against strong opponents can you develop.

— What will come to the fore in the return leg against Zenit?

— I think desire, one-on-one combat, and the game of football itself.

— Did the long-awaited victory over Dynamo Makhachkala allow you to breathe a sigh of relief ahead of this crucial match?

— We're taking it game by game, and I hope the match against Makhachkala will be a springboard for moving forward. Given the current situation, this match gave us a boost of emotion. Now we just need to move forward with that emotion and take advantage of the opportunities we have.

— At the academy, they called you "the master of goal-scoring masterpieces." What's your favorite goal so far?

— I remember when I went to play for the Moscow national team, I scored an overhead kick. Then I also scored from the center of the field. Speaking of playing for the senior Dynamo team, I remember the goal against Tekstilshchik in 2022, when I scored on the volley. Plus, this year against Krylia Sovetov, I scored a beautiful goal.

— From your year, besides you, only Leon Zaydenzal is currently in the starting lineup. They called him the smartest at the academy. Was that true?

— More like the most resilient (laughs). He's both smart and resilient. In a word, an athlete.

— You were always in the spotlight at the academy, were recognized as the best striker, scored a lot, and made your RPL debut at 19. What was missing to secure a place on the team back then?

— I think, to some extent, luck. I was moving towards my goal carefully, taking my time, but the injuries I sustained in late 2022 and early 2023 derailed that momentum. I knew this was my destiny, and only by completing this journey would I be fully ready for the first team.

— Last season was your first full season at the top level. Did your loan spell with Krylia Sovetov give you a lot?

— Yes, I learned a lot from the guys and the coach; it was a very important experience. For any athlete who has come up from the third or even fourth league to the RPL, it's a very important and difficult step. Playing at that level, training with such players, you can easily improve.

— It's fitting that you had your most memorable game this season against Samara, scoring a hat-trick. Was it a coincidence, or did your knowledge of Krylia Sovetov's inner workings help?

— It was a coincidence. It was just a regular game. I went out there, enjoyed the game, and the team did well. We won thanks to our teamwork and the passes my teammates gave me — I just had to capitalize on my chances.

— Did Philipp Sokolinsky, who coached you at the academy and is now on Krylia Sovetov's coaching staff, say anything after the match?

— Congratulated me and said I was doing well. It was a pleasure meeting him. Whenever we see each other, we always talk. He's given me a lot in life in general, and thanks to him, I've definitely improved my development.

— You'll forever remain in the history of VTB Arena as the first Dynamo player to score a hat-trick here. What achievement would you like to set next?

— It's nice to know that I'm the first to score a hat-trick in our arena. I want to achieve not just personal success, but team success — winning the championship and the Cup. This is very important for the club, as Dynamo hasn't won anything in a long time, and this will be a big step forward for all of us, giving us even more confidence.

— You broke into the starting lineup under Valeri Karpin. How surprised were you by his departure?

— I was surprised that Valeri Georgievich made this decision. Honestly, he gave me a lot. I spent half the season with him, and during that time I improved a lot in terms of discipline, my game, and my understanding of football. So, I was both surprised and disappointed.

— You said your goal was to make the Russian national team in the near future. Has that gotten closer or further with Karpin's departure?

— It doesn't matter whether it's closer or further. I have a goal, and everything will depend on me: how I work, how I want to work, how hard I try. I can use what Karpin gave me to my advantage. I need to keep working as I did before, and at some point I'll achieve my goal.

— Rolan Gusev has good rapport with the players. How often has he personally advised you on anything this season?

— As soon as I returned from the national team, we started talking, discussing things. He tells me how to play, what to do. We have a good relationship as coach and player, purely on work-related matters.

— You have a great shot with both feet. Is that innate or something you've developed through hard work?

— I think it's both. Ever since I was a kid, I've been good with both my left and right feet—I never had any problems with that. As soon as I got to Khimki, I scored with both feet; it made no difference. Then I started practicing it specifically.

— One of your main strengths is your speedy dribbling. Who's been your role model in this area?

— There's no one player I look up to. I follow a lot of players. There was Eden Hazard's time at Chelsea, where he moved the ball very well. I also follow Kylian Mbappé, Jamal Musiala, and Florian Wirtz. I watch a little bit of everyone, learning what they do.

— Who did you learn what from at Dynamo?

— I learned from Vanya Sergeev at Krylia Sovetov how to prevent defenders from playing the ball. From Kostya Tyukavin, how to position my back; from Yarik Gladyshev, how to get open. So, a little bit from everyone. I watch, observe, and try to adopt it.

— What motivates you in sports, and what is your goal for the next year?

— I'm motivated by trophies, personal awards, and the overall desire to play. I just want to go out on the field and enjoy it. Not lose constantly and wonder what's wrong, but win every game and think: yes, everything's great, we're going in the right direction.