Georgy Zhbanov: "Our young players came in and gave us energy"

Zenit guard Georgy Zhbanov answered journalists' questions and summed up the home game against MBA-MAI (73:50). He also shared his impressions of working with the team's newcomer, Alexey Shved, and spoke about the mindset ahead of the next game against CSKA.

— Congratulations to everyone on the victory. We executed the coach's plan and secured the win. It's that simple.

— Alexey Shved has joined the team. Has he adapted? Have you already found common ground?

— Alexey is a super talented and highly experienced player. His strength isn't just in scoring but also in his vision and passing. So, having him on the team is a huge advantage for us. And it's not difficult to find common ground with a player like him.

— You practically secured the win in the first half of the game. The second half was more evenly matched. Was that because you slowed down a bit, knowing the game was already decided?

— Well, yes, that happens when you take a big lead. The third quarter can see a bit of a drop-off. But that's why we have young players who always come in and fight for every possession. They came in, gave us energy, and we finished the job in the fourth quarter.

— A crucial game against CSKA is coming up. Are you preparing in a special way for your main rival?

— I’m always excited when we play CSKA. There are always big expectations for this game. It's a major matchup, and all eyes are on it. So, as the coach said today, we just need to enjoy the game and not panic.

— Does the game’s start time bother you?

— No, it's all good.