Dynamo centre-forward Fedor Smolov commented on the win over Slovan Bratislava (2:1) in the VTB winter training camp opener.
— Yesterday there was a very difficult training session on the beach – how did you feel on the pitch after it?
— Honestly speaking, it's very hard. There are always serious loads at the first training camp, but it is worth of remark that Marcel's loads are super serious. The most important thing is that no one was injured and we managed to pull out a victory.
— Can you tell that these training camps are the hardest in your career?
— They are definitely in my top 2. Still, I will give the palm to Andrey Kobelev. He offered a lot of running work without the ball, and it was my first training camp with the first team. It was very difficult.
— Usually the first opponent is easier at the training camp, but today you faced the champion of Slovakia. Did you like this game?
— They have a great team. Many guys have played in good clubs and for their national teams. But I think it makes no sense to look at the opponent during the first stage of preparation. But it's nice to start with a victory, even in a friendly match.
— There were a lot of fouls and struggle in the game. Isn't it a little weird for a friendly encounter?
— No, everyone is under loads anyway and no one wanted to lose. Someone touched someone unintentionally, one clings to the other that resulted in fouls. After all, Slovan are the champion of their country, who also did not want to be beaten.
— Did you have time to say something to Aleksandr Chupayov, who scored the debut goal for the first team?
— Of course, I congratulated him on his debut goal and then asked why he didn't run when I assisted on him and he could rush one-on-one with the goalkeeper. He answered that he was tired – it happens.
— Did Marcel promise to give any relaxation for the victory at tomorrow's training?
— No, there will be no relaxation, it's one hundred percent. We understood it in the first six months. We just have to survive and that's it.
— Are you still fresh enough for the last two days of the training camp?
— In any case, we will have to live through them. In addition, we have a friendly match ahead on January 25th. We will endure.