Dmitry Nikolaev: "Our task is to instill a professional attitude toward sports in the players"

The head coach of Zenit U19, Dmitry Nikolaev, spoke about his approach to this new stage in his career and shared the intricacies of working with the youth team.

— From 2019 to 2023, you were already part of the coaching staff of Zenit-UOR №1, and then you spent a year heading Zenit-2008. After a season, you're returning to the U 19 team’s coaching staff, but now as the head coach. Have you gained any new experience during this time?

— Yes, of course. Last year, I worked as the head coach of Zenit-2008, whereas before, I was only an assistant. This is a completely different job, with different responsibilities. It was a very good and important experience for me.

— How did you react to the offer to lead the youth team of the blue-whites?

— I was very happy. This is a new challenge for me, a huge responsibility, but at the same time, it’s very interesting work.

— The pre-season started in mid-August, and there are many newcomers to the team. What is the atmosphere in the team at this stage?

— The atmosphere is good; the guys are working hard and giving their best. You can see a strong desire to make the roster, to prove themselves, and to secure their place on the court.

— Do you plan to conduct any team-building activities outside of training? If so, what might that include? Do you think this is important?

— It’s very important because the microclimate and atmosphere within the team are crucial in team sports. We will definitely focus on this. We’re just getting started, so all the activities are still ahead of us.

— Zenit has a clear system for developing its reserves, which is already showing results. The youth team is at the entry level. What is important to instill in the players at this stage so they can perform well at the professional level in the future?

— You’re right to say that the youth team is the entry level. Our main focus is to instill in the players a professional attitude toward sports and the training process. As for basketball itself, our goal is to teach them new skills and lay a foundation that will make it easier for them to adapt to adult teams and progress further.

— Can you share the plans for the team’s pre-season preparation?

— At the moment, we are holding a training camp in St. Petersburg with two training sessions a day. We’re working here for now. In the future, we plan to play a series of friendly matches and possibly participate in some tournaments.