The CSKA forward talks about the secrets to winning, the Belov Cup and his future plans in an exclusive interview with VTB-League.com.
– Is winning the championship with CSKA your biggest accomplishment at the club level?
– Yes, absolutely. It’s my first time being champion! Three years ago, I played in the VTB United League finals with Nizhny Novgorod. That was an excellent experience, but we only managed to get silver. The emotions are incredible this time. I’m really glad we won the League and I’m happy the work I put into the game I love paid off. I don’t think the three-game series and final scores reflect the level of competition. Each game was very difficult to win. But we respected our opponent, which is why we deserved to win.
– The Army Men didn’t lose a game in the playoffs. Is it possible to stop this team?
– Nothing is impossible. Every team has weaknesses and we’re no exception. During the regular season, we lost twice in the League and we had a tough game in Saratov that went to overtime. The most important thing is to really focus on each opponent, no matter where they are in the standings. You need to respect your opponent. I’m very satisfied we made it through the playoffs without a loss. Everyone’s alive and healthy and in a great mood. Now we need to rest, heal up, recover and gradually begin preparing mentally for next season.
– The NBA season also concluded today. Did you follow the Golden State – Cleveland series?
– I only followed the results because getting up at 4 am, when you have practices and two kids, is virtually impossible. I was rooting for Cleveland in the Finals, but, unfortunately, they couldn’t pull off the miracle this time.
– Even Golden State lost once…
– Don’t forget that it’s a seven-game series in the NBA. In any case, going 16-1 in the playoffs is unbelievable!
– Dmitry Golovin loves to tease people. When you moved to CSKA, what was his reaction?
– Like any friend, he congratulated me on moving to a new team and wished me luck. We’re still in touch and have a great relationship.
– What do you think separates a super team like CSKA from any other team?
– The main difference is that you show to prove your professionalism at every practice. You have to give everything to make the roster for the next game. Look at CSKA’s roster. There are so many talented players and almost everyone plays on a national team. On that type of team, the level of focus is always intense.
– You were a leader and played a lot at Nizhny Novgorod. At CSKA, you haven’t always received playing time. Was it tough to adjust?
– No, because before making the move, I knew that my playing time would diminish. I understand what awaited me. I weighed the pros and cons. What’s more, we had a common goal: winning the League. The coach did a good job dividing our roles and we achieved the desired result.
– The championship trophy has a new design this year. Do you like it?
– I don’t really remember the design of the other trophies, probably because I never held it in my hands. This one is beautiful and heavy! It’s great that it’s engraved with an image of the legendary Sergei Alexandrovich Belov. Hockey has the Gagarin Cup. Now we have the Belov Cup!
– Have you already thought about how you’re going to celebrate the championship?
– I haven’t thought about it, but I definitely need to do something. Right now my wife and son are waiting for me. I don’t know if they already went home or not, because we live pretty close to the Khimki arena. It’s going to be tough to sleep tonight. There will probably be a lot of messages. We need to celebrate today and tomorrow, then celebrate a few more days, and a few more days. Then I’ll start preparing for the national team and club season.
– Do you have a few words for the fans?
– Shout out to my hometown of Nizhnevartovsk, where I was born and grew up. I have a lot of friends there. Also, Nizhny Novgorod, which became a second home for me. My parents live in Nizhny now and I’m going there very soon to see them.
