MALAFEEV: I WILL MISS ARSHAVIN
Vyacheslav Malafeev gave an interview to Sport Express during Zenit’s preparations in Turkey.
Zenit goalkeeper had to switch to the national team matters, as Russian team held pre-season training camp in Turkey.
"I receive callups from the national team coaches regularly, so I have no problems with adaptation", said Malafeev to Sport Express. "I am sure that there won’t be any problems when I need to return to Zenit. Moreover we are training in the national team in the same way as if we do it in our clubs. We won’t play any official games, but we are offered interesting work here".
"People say that training camps are the most tiring things in life of football players, but I would say that it’s the most difficult thing for us. Players need to undertake a great deal of work, and you often don’t have desire to something, especially after vacations. But after some time you understand that it’s necessary for you".
"I will miss Andrei Arshavin, who moved to Arsenal last week. Roman Pavlyuchenko had already scored three goals for Tottenham, and many people stake on who will score more goals in England – Pavlyuchenko or Arshavin. To my mind it would be wrong to stake at something".
"I think both of them have good chances to show good results there. Maybe Arsenal player has more chances to score, because this club is stronger".
"Zenit newcomer Huszti has already joined us and has been training with us during several days. He needs time for adaptation, but organizational problems distract his attention".
"I suppose coaches don’t wait immediate result from him. Szabolcs speaks English and German, so I am sure we will find a common language easily".
"It’s hard to assess my present form. If I say that I am in good fitness, it will sound self-assured, but if I say different thing, everybody will be sure that I didn’t work at all".
"Zenit has a positive statistics of matches against German teams, but country of our opponents doesn’t mean anything. We will play Stuttgart, so if we really want to leave them behind, we will reach our target".