Vladislav Emchenko: "I’m confident I can bring value to the team and the club"

Zenit newcomer Vladislav Emchenko spoke about how difficult the decision to join the Blue-White-Sky Blues was, what jersey number he’ll wear and how he’s spending the offseason. All this and more — in our interview.

— Vladislav, did it take you long to decide before accepting Zenit's offer?

— The decision wasn’t easy. That’s mostly because I had spent my entire life playing for one club, and I think it’s always hard for anyone to part ways with something so familiar. I took some time to think it through and weigh all the options — and in the end, I made the decision to join the Blue-White-Sky Blues.

— Why did you choose St. Petersburg to continue your career?

— I’m the kind of person who never stands still. I’m always looking for ways to get better, to grow, to move forward, to improve myself and strive for something greater — for the very best. Right now, I believe that Zenit is the perfect place for me to achieve both personal and team goals. I’m confident I can bring value to the team and the club.

— What goals are you setting for yourself this upcoming season?

— I always try to set the highest goals possible and work hard to reach them. Specifically, it’s about trying to win every game. The next game is always the most important. And of course, the goal is to win every tournament, every championship we compete in with Zenit. Ultimately, the team goals will need to be discussed with the team itself, the coaching staff, and the club management. But I’m sure they’ll align with mine.

— How are you planning to spend July? Playing basketball during vacation?

— The first half of July was the second half of my vacation. Starting mid-July, the main Russian national team training camp began, in preparation for friendly games and, of course, the club season.

— One of the most memorable moments from last season was your game against Zenit in January in Saint Petersburg and the intense semifinal series. What do you remember from those matchups with Zenit?

— Yes, we played 11 games against Zenit this season with Lokomotiv, if I’m not mistaken. I can’t recall every game in detail, but most of them were truly exciting, full of passion and drama — right up to the final minutes and even seconds. That January game was definitely memorable — we won by a wide margin and I'm happy that I had a strong performance too. But of course, the seven-game semifinal series really stands out. I think only in the first game did Zenit beat Loko by a large margin; all the others were close, going down to the wire — with overtimes and incredible moments. I think that series will stay in the memory of players and basketball fans for a long time. Yes, we at Loko lost, but we all enjoyed the game and gained valuable experience. It was a great series that will stay with us. It was awesome.

— Tell us about choosing your jersey number at Zenit.

— I’m planning to wear number 35. Or rather, keep it. A lot of people ask me why — many think it’s because of NBA star Kevin Durant. But that’s not the case. As a kid, I often wore number 5, and then number 33 with the junior national team. I just like how the numbers 3 and 5 look. So at some point, I decided I wanted to be number 35. That’s all there is to it.

— Are you happy to reunite with head coach Aleksander Sekulic?

— Of course I’m happy to play under Sasha Sekulic again. I already had two years of experience working with him at Lokomotiv. I really respect him both as a person and as a coach. He knows how to identify a player’s strengths and how to make the most of them on the court. He can manage a team, conduct it like an orchestra, and get the team playing to its full potential. I hope that under his leadership, Zenit can win the VTB League this upcoming season.

— You’re active on your Telegram channel. How is your summer going?

— I wouldn’t say I’m super active — I wish I posted more! But when I created the channel, I decided it would be a personal outlet for me, a way to connect with my audience and subscribers. When I’m in the mood, when I have the time and the desire, I post. When I don’t — I don’t. In any case, I’m grateful to everyone who’s subscribed, who follows along, who’s interested and supportive, who cares about me, my life, my career, and my family. Thank you all.

As for summer — yes, I managed to rest, reset, relax, recharge, and regain strength before the season. I’m now with the national team. We’ve started working and are preparing for upcoming friendlies and, I think, for the club season as well. Everything’s going according to plan.

— When do you plan to arrive in St. Petersburg?

— I plan to come to St. Petersburg in August. I don’t know the exact date yet. It will depend on when the official start of team training camp is announced.

— What would you like to say to our fans who are eager to see you in action?

— I’m really looking forward to meeting you, dear fans. We’ll see each other, get to know each other, hear each other soon. I want to feel that stadium atmosphere — the call, the aura, the vibe, as they say. We, as a team, will do everything we can to bring you joy with our beautiful, high-scoring, winning games. The season will be long — with both easy and tough moments. We’ll need your support at every stage of the championship. Together, we can achieve great things.