"Our business is not only to go to the games, but also to train"

Russian national team players will play an away friendly match against Qatar on September 7. And on Thursday, they met at home with Jordan. The game ended in a draw with a score of 0:0. Zenit St. Petersburg goalkeeper Denis Adamov was in the application for the match, for whom this call—up to the national team is the first in his career.

In an interview with Izvestia, the 27-year-old goalkeeper appreciated the last game, spoke about the motivation to train in the national team, even without going to the base for matches, and commented on a meeting with PSG goalkeeper Matvey Safonov, with whom he once started in the Krasnodar system.

— How did the match with Jordan look from the bench?

— I think it was a little tough in the first half. In the second, we already turned the tide of the game and created many chances at the opponent's goal. We will try to play better in Qatar.

— Do you rate the level of the Jordan national team highly?

— A good opponent. It's no coincidence that he qualified for the World Cup. And in the last match, it was clear from the game that the team was meaningful. It's interesting to prove yourself in such matches against such national teams. It's great that the Russian national team has a lot of good friendly opponents this fall. This is only a plus. In any case, it's much better than if these games didn't exist at all.

— How do you like the atmosphere in the Russian national team?

— In general, everything is fine. The atmosphere is good. There is everything for work.

— Was it unexpected for you to be called up to the national team, given that less than a month ago you ousted Evgeny Latyshon from Zenit's base and began playing regularly in the Russian championship?

— No, I always expect a challenge. Another thing is that nothing depends on me here — the decision is made by the coaching staff of the Russian national team. It so happened that I was called now, which I am very happy about.

— At the beginning of the week, the goalkeeper coach of the national team, Vitaly Kafanov, announced that Alexander Maksimenko, who eventually took the field in the match against Jordan, and Matvey Safonov, who is scheduled to be released in Qatar, would play. What is the motivation to go to the national team, knowing that you will be able to play only in case of some emergency?

— Our business is not only to go to the games, but also to train. We still came to the national team. In any case, it's a great honor and motivation, even if you're just training in it with the best players in the country. And I want to show my best side to the coaching staff. But, of course, everyone is waiting for their chance to enter the field and prove themselves directly in the match. However, it's up to the coaches to decide who to release.

— You and Matvey Safonov are both students of Krasnodar. What was it like to officially train with him for the first time in five years after you left the club?

— Everything is fine. We talked a little bit. They remembered the old days at Krasnodar.

— Did he say something about PSG?

— Yes, but it was a personal conversation, so I won't talk about it in the media.

— According to your observations, has he become stronger during the year at PSG?

— We didn't have much training in the national team. We only had two training sessions together before the match with Jordan. They were more focused on different tactical points. And during that time it was difficult to assess. But it is obvious that Matvey has achieved great success during the year at PSG, having played a number of matches for him and participated in the success of the club in the French championship and the Champions League.