Aleksander Scherbenev: "Impressions are great, I'm glad to join the team"
— Alexander, we are glad to welcome you to Zenit. What are your first impressions from your stay in Antalya?
— My impressions are great, I am glad to join the team. The conditions here are great. To be honest, it's the first time in this hotel and training base. The conditions are super, so the maximum focus is on getting into the team and helping Zenit.
— Can you tell us what options you considered to continue your career and why you chose Zenit?
— There were other offers from VTB clubs, but I was considering either staying at Lokomotiv or moving to Zenit. And I chose St. Petersburg, I decided to change the circumstances. It was interesting to work with head coach Pascual. A very strong squad has been assembled, so I hope that together we will win "gold".
— You are characterised by confidence in your own abilities. You are never afraid to throw in a decisive attack. Is it inborn or maybe you learnt it from your partners?
— I think it's inborn (laughs). You can't get that from your partners. I don't know, I guess it's an observation. When I was a kid I watched players who took responsibility and liked it, so I decided to be like that on the court.
— What's the most memorable siren shot of your career?
— There probably isn't one with the siren. If I have to pick one, it was with CSKA in Game 7, in the semifinals the year before last.
— In last year's Supercup final with Zenit, you made the game-winning pass, but fumbled under Moerman's blocked shot. Do you remember that moment, can you describe it somehow?
— Yes, I remember. The ball was flying well. I thought, to be honest, that I would score. I had Georgy Zhbanov on me, and we were losing by 2 points. I could have made a three-pointer, but Zenit had a bonus, 5 team penalties, so I thought I'd escalate, go for a foul. And in the moment Georgy stepped away from me to avoid a foul. I was already throwing a floter, and suddenly Moerman covered. I think if it wasn't for him, the game would have gone into overtime.
— They say Xavi Pascual has the biggest playbook in Europe. Are you ready to learn a lot of combinations? That's not a surprise to you?
— Of course I am. I've heard a lot about it.
— How were you received at Zenit? Has someone taken on the role of a mentor?
— They received me perfectly, as positive as possible. I know a lot of people, so it was not difficult to join the team and start working as much as possible.
— Recently the club celebrated its ten-year anniversary. What would you like to say to the blue-whites fans?
— That all the major victories are ahead of us.
— What are your expectations from the upcoming season?
— In fact, my expectations are as positive as possible. We have a more or less young and at the same time experienced team. Therefore, under the leadership of Xavier Pascual, I think we have every chance to win "gold". We will prepare and think only about it.
— Tell us, how are you going to win the competition at your position?
— By basketball (laughs). I plan to play well.
— What do you associate Zenit and St. Petersburg with? In three words.
— Zenit is probably associated with Sergey Karasev, because no matter how much I follow this club, he was almost always here. And St Petersburg is associated with rainy weather.
