Dynamo Head Coach summed up the winter VTB training camps interim results in a special interview to In camp! video blog.
— What can you say about the team’s work this winter?
— We are satisfied with our training camps. Almost all the footballers got the opportunity to play 90 minutes in different matches. Everything met our expectations: the conditions in which we have been training as well as the team’s professional attitude to work.
— Have you made any changes to the winter training program in comparison with the last year?
— If we talk about last year's training camps and these ones, then, of course, we made significant progress. I think that the intensity of our training sessions increased. I would like to single out this aspect.
— How did you choose the opponents for these training camps?
— It was very important to correctly choose the opponents. Among other things, this choice depended on the loads that the guys received. We had to regulate this aspect and give the necessary playing time to our players. I think we have prepared well and are ready for the upcoming matches in the Premier League.
— Fedor Smolov has been at Dynamo for a month. How is he adapting to the team?
— We are very glad that Fedor has joined Dynamo. He has adapted to the team easily, there were no problems. He is a very skilled footballer. If we talk about Smolov's human qualities, he is very open. From the first days he became an integral part of our team.
— Four young football players from Dynamo-2 are training here with the first team. Are you satisfied with their work?
— All of them are very diligent guys who trained hard. They could establish themselves in friendly matches. In such a short period of time, we can see their progress in terms of playing qualities.
— The Russian Premier League resumes at the end of the month. Do you follow the friendly matches of our nearest rivals?
— Yes, of course. We try to keep an eye on our rivals’ performance. We are lucky that a lot of sides hold their training camps in Turkey. Therefore, we can follow some of them on the spot. But, of course, we are also watching the others. We have a general idea of the teams we are going to face.