Artem Antipov: "I want to prove myself during preseason camp"

Zenit forward Artem Antipov spoke to the club's media for the first time since rejoining the first team, reflecting on his summer offseason, recovery from injury, and his expectations of working under the Blue-White-Sky Blues' new head coach, Duško Ivanović.

From August 5 to 7, Zenit players are undergoing in-depth medical examinations as part of the team's preparations for the start of preseason training camp.

— Artem, tell us how you spent your summer. What stood out the most?

— It was a very productive summer because we put in a lot of work. I was recovering from an injury, so it was important to manage my workload carefully. I didn't get a chance to go anywhere for a vacation. The only trips I made were to different cities for training sessions with coaches. Overall, I think I've put in a lot of work to come into preseason in decent shape and head into the new season with fresh energy.

— You mentioned that you've finally put a long recovery process behind you. How would you assess your current condition, and what are your emotions heading into the new season?

— Of course, I'm really looking forward to getting back on the court and returning to full training after such a long recovery. It gave me time to reflect and rethink a lot of things, and now I'm excited to experience what it feels like to be back on the court and enjoy those sensations again.

— Zenit has a new head coach. Duško Ivanović is known for his demanding approach. Does working under him give you extra motivation?

— Absolutely. For a young player, working with a coach of his caliber is an extra source of motivation and a great opportunity to prove yourself. First of all, I want to show what I can do during preseason camp, earn the coach's trust, and then prove myself throughout the season.