Georgy Zhbanov: "Our goal is to look completely different by the end of the season"
Blue-White-Sky Blues forward Georgy Zhbanov spoke to Zenit TV about the game against Uralmash (91:86).
— Georgy, congratulations on the win! Today, just like in the previous game against Samara, the start was quite tough — the visitors led by 11 points. What do you think caused that?
— We have a completely new team, and we’re still in the process of getting used to each other and learning how we all play. It’s a tough process, but with every game we’ll get better. Our goal is to look completely different by the end of the season.
— You found your rhythm in the third quarter. Did the coaching staff find the right words? What did they tell you during halftime?
— Not really, it was all thanks to Vladislav Emchenko. He kept finding me with passes, and I couldn’t let him down. So I just kept believing, kept trusting my shot — and it finally started to go in.
— You played almost three quarters without a substitution. Were you ready to keep going like that in the fourth?
— Yes, I wasn’t tired at all, I could’ve kept playing. But the coach made the decision — he knows best. He gave me a bit of rest.
— You relied a lot on three-point shots today. Early on they didn’t seem to fall: you started 0/4. Did you feel you’d start hitting them in the third quarter?
— Yes, as I said before, I always believe in my shot and will keep shooting, even if I’ve missed four, five, or ten in a row — it doesn’t matter. If I’m open, I’ll always take the shot.
— You made everyone a bit nervous at the end. After all, Uralmash has already shown in their game against Loko that they can come back from behind.
— Yes, Uralmash is a strong team, tough guys who never give up — even being down 14 with three minutes left didn’t bother them. They kept fighting, and I really respect that. And their coaching staff, led by Rostislav Vergun — his teams always fight to the very end, never give up. He’s a great coach with a big future. Things will only get better for them.
— Up next is an away game in Nizhny Novgorod. Do you go there with special feelings, like you did in Yekaterinburg?
— Yes, I’ve got family there too now — my father-in-law and mother-in-law — so we’ll get to see each other. And it’s always nice to go back to where I started my professional career and play in front of fans who remember me as an 18-year-old kid.
