Alexander Medvedev: "It's great that our players are learning Russian"

The Chairman of the Board BC Zenit, Alexander Medvedev, attended the home game against Enisey (94:76) and shared his initial impressions of the team's performance at the start of the season. In an interview with Zenit-TV, Alexander Ivanovich spoke about the rivalry with Krasnodar this year in various competitions, as well as how to handle a month without home games.

— You probably know that our American player, Xavier Moon, has started speaking Russian. At Zenit, we encourage learning our native and beloved language. How important is this?

— It's great. Our football players are very enthusiastic about learning Russian. For instance, Nino is reading Dostoevsky. So, I fully support this initiative, especially given the nuanced phrases that enable players to respond to any questions.

— We're a quarter of the way through the regular season. What milestones can you highlight, and does Zenit's game please the eye?

— As expected, the championship is very competitive with a new four-round tournament system, which means more exciting games. There's fierce competition in the matches. I'm thrilled that Zenit managed to win away in Krasnodar, and today the team is also showcasing a diverse style of play.

— One of Zenit's slogans this season — Team Chemistry. How do you see this in action? Are the processes bubbling, are reactions happening?

— This is quite a common metaphor — having enough chemistry or not. But in reality, it's not about whether there's enough chemistry, but rather about the types of reagents and catalysts present. You want to avoid inhibitors — if anyone remembers chemistry, those are substances that prevent reactions. And in this context, it’s what hinders the team's performance.

— This year, teams from Krasnodar have been leading for quite some time, both in football and basketball. But in basketball, Zenit has already surpassed Loko. Will we have to wait for the return match at Gazprom Arena for the football team to overtake Krasnodar, or will it happen sooner?

— It will be a very intense competition. Krasnodar has really picked up momentum, aiming for a record streak without losing points. But I am confident that Zenit will fight with all its might for victory in this anniversary season.

— It’s known that Zenit football player Douglas Santos is no longer considered a foreign player in the Russian Premier League. And just yesterday, Trent Frazier told us that we should now call him the "Black Russian". He says he feels Russian at heart. Do you think there will come a time in basketball when players start becoming naturalized as Russians?

— We hope so, including Trent, who has expressed a desire to become a Russian citizen. In football, this topic is more widespread. However, in basketball, I believe, for somewhat contrived reasons, this topic is not supported by the Russian Basketball Federation. They’ve asked for a year to see how things progress, and I hope common sense will prevail.

— We know there's a whole month ahead without basketball in St. Petersburg, and then right after that, it's CSKA. How do we get through this month, and how can we ensure a roaring crowd for the game against the Moscow team?

— Well, firstly, you can always travel to the away games. Our fans love to follow the team on the road. And, of course, both Match TV and Okko are broadcasting basketball, providing good coverage with diverse commentary and shows about the sport. So, let's support our team no matter where we are.

— Finally, is about one of the basketball fans. We know that Zenit do not abandon their own, always love them, return them,  treat really well. Zenit can serve as an example in this regard. There are rumors that Daler Kuzyaev might return. Is there any ground for these rumors?

— After Daler’s first season in France, where he fulfilled his dream of playing in European leagues, we offered him the chance to return to Zenit for the anniversary season. It would be a significant gesture. However, he said he wants to play one more season in France. So, I think we can revisit this topic next summer.