"Even in training, everyone wants to win"
Alexander Erokhin is the author of one of Zenit's most important goals this season. In the match against Sochi, the 36-year-old midfielder came on as a substitute in the second half and scored a goal, which brought victory to St. Petersburg and secured the first place in the round before the finish of the championship. In an interview with Izvestia and SE, Erokhin shared his expectations for the final round and expressed a desire to continue his career at a club from the Northern Capital.
"I don't think any of us will come to Rostov with thoughts of a draw"
— The last week of the RPL season has started, with what attitude is the team approaching the decisive match with Rostov?
— This is the most important week. The main thing is to recover and prepare well. There's plenty of time, so right now I'm just thinking about the match against Rostov. We are well aware of its significance. The most important thing is that everything is in our hands now and depends on the outcome of our game. We've been in similar situations before, and we understand how to approach and adjust to them. I am sure that Zenit will be ready both mentally and physically.
— Are you satisfied with a draw in the last round...
— When a team keeps in mind a result that suits them, it doesn't always end well. We only play to win, regardless of the tournament or the circumstances. Moreover, even in training, everyone wants to win. Therefore, there is only one attitude — to take three points. I don't think anyone will enter the field with other thoughts.
— Two years ago Zenit already became the champion in the match against Rostov. Will this experience help?
— Every element can have a meaning. There are players in the team who have been through such matches. We have high-level players, we have character. Everyone understands perfectly well what this game means for Zenit, for the fans, for the city. I repeat: the thoughts are only about victory, there can be no other.
— Let's go back to the meeting with Sochi. We went into the second half with the score 0:1 — at that moment, did you feel that the championship was slipping away?
— We knew how much depends on this match. And, perhaps, our victory influenced Krasnodar as well — after all, we snatched three points in a very emotional ending. There are no small things in football: everything fits into the big picture. We will continue to do everything that depends on us and believe that everything will turn out the way we want.
— Did you know that you would be on the field after the break?
— There was a great desire to come out and help. I understood that if I get a chance, I will do everything for the result. I hope my ball will give the whole team an extra boost. Such moments bring the team together. It was obvious how the guys celebrated it and how important it is for everyone. Maybe this will be one of the important puzzle pieces on our way.
— At the same time, your goal against Sochi can become a champion ...
— It's too early to talk about it. Someone probably wants to say that Zenit has already won the title. But we understand that Rostov is a high—quality team. It's never easy in her field. But after the season, you can already sit down and speculate about where and which goal became the championship goal.
— You have already been compared to Thomas Mueller on social media.
— It's difficult to compare: everyone has their own path and their own story. It's not the first time I've been told about this, and if more than one or two people have such associations, maybe there's something to it.
— Did they tell you in the locker room that you need to be "stamped" for Sochi's goal?
— No, there was no such thing. Actually, I don't keep a close eye on my stats, but the guys said that this ball was my 50th in Zenit. We warmly congratulated and made a "corridor". I think that's enough.
"Lunev is a professional, and he has a goalie's fart"
— Where did you watch the Dynamo– Krasnodar match?
— At home with my family. We drank tea and watched football. And, in fact, we were following the fate of our club in the championship race.
— Did you discuss something in the team chat?
— Not during the game. Of course, there were reactions and messages after the match. Dynamo has accumulated a lot of "debts", and they are fundamental: for three years they have been meeting with Krasnodar in decisive games, both in the Cup and in the RPL... And sports anger spilled out into such a result.
— What were the reactions in the chat?
— They wrote that we are in a race, in a game: the guys understand that everything depends on us. And with this attitude, it will be better to prepare for Rostov.
— After the first half, when Krasnodar led 1-0, did you believe that a comeback was still possible?
— The result could have been anything. Look at the CSKA match in this round — goals in the last minutes! Things often change in added time, too. And favorites on paper often leave without winning. Therefore, I understood that everything could change. Yes, and Dynamo was coming to the goal — there were chances.
— How did you feel when Boselli ran across half the field and Andrei Lunev dragged his kick?
— A lot of things coincided there — there was also a mistake by the defender... But Andrey is a professional, and he has a goalie's fart. He played well, took the shot. Perhaps this episode was the turning point. After him, Dynamo gained confidence. They scored. Krasnodar, on the other hand, tried to pile in, opening up the zones where Dynamo's counterattacks took place.
— Did you write to Lunev? Did you say thank you?
"Not yet." But we communicate periodically. He had an emotional match after all - I didn't want to disturb him after the game. But we'll discuss that moment with him later!
— And Ivan Sergeyev?
— I wished him a happy birthday. He's having a holiday, I wrote to him.
— This spring, Alexander Sobolev finally broke through. What did Zenit do to him?
— A team is a living organism and a mechanism where every element is important. At some point in the season, everyone contributes to the final result. I also had periods when I scored in four or five games in a row.
Sobolev is a striker, goals are his job. And he is coping with this task now. And not just him, but everyone: every assist, the work of the defenders, every save is important. Everyone is trying for a common goal.
— Zenit has been surrounded by insider stories about conflicts and fines all season, and the team has often been criticized. Although you are in the lead with a round to go and are one step away from the title. Is it bothering you?
— I have experience in this regard — I understand how to treat this. There will always be different news, and you need to respond to it correctly. But the main thing is to do your job and benefit the team. Listen, I want Zenit to win with all my heart and soul! Therefore, you can only respond to all insiders and comments on the football field.
— Your contract ends at the end of the season. What's next?
— I feel strong and motivated to continue and help Zenit on the football field for at least another season. I want to continue to benefit! I understand that I have both the qualities and the strength for this. Of course, I would like to extend the contract. Right now, everyone is focused on the end of the championship, and the specifics will come later.
— Have you already discussed with the management that you will return to negotiations after the season?
— There are certain conversations, I can't tell you more. I hope they will lead to a positive outcome. But right now, the most important and important thing is the team result, and that's all I'm thinking about.
— You have 105 minutes for effective action in the championship and Cup. At the same time, 418 minutes of time on the field. How do you like this role?
— Of course, you always want to play more. In fact, in almost every match in which he played in the starting lineup this season, there was an effective action. I work every day and keep myself in shape so that I can be ready at any moment and match Zenit's level. I need to be in good shape all the time, let it be 90 minutes or 15-20. In the match against Lokomotiv, I had three of them, and I scored with my first touch.
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