Xavi Pascual: "In the second half we became a little bit better in defense"

Zenit head coach Xavi Pascual summed up the results of the home match with Astana, which ended with a confident victory for the blue-whites with a score of 86:63.

— It was not so easy to play after 18 days without competition. The truth is that it's one game that, especially in the first quarter, we didn't find the right rhythm. Defensively and offensively, but step-by-step in the second half we became a little bit better in defense. And in offense, more or less, we were playing one game more or less effective. We played not too much turnovers, eight turnovers, and we could close this game with this advantage that helped us to find the right rhythm, to find the good shape for the next game.

— Has this two-week break helped to better integrate newcomers Okaro White and Alexey Shved into Zenit's system, or do they still need some time to adapt?

— Yes, they need time but they need games, mainly they need games. In practice, ok, for sure it helps a lot, but game by game they will find the right rhythm. Today, Alexey played very well, changed our game in offence, our image in offence was different with him, with more creation, with more power, more control. And also Okaro has good minutes. So, step by step they are helping more team and this is a good thing for us.