Defender of Kyiv’s «Dynamo» Denis Popov shared his thoughts on the mood with which his team started the pre-season training camp in Turkey in an interview with the club’s YouTube channel.
— How is your mood right now, have you had time to rest during the vacation you had?
— The vacation was short, so we had a little rest. Now we have returned with new energy and emotions to work. In the first part of the training camp, we will, as always, focus on running. Then we will start working with the balls. Everything is as usual.
— How difficult is it to return to such an intense regime after a break?
— It is always difficult, but it has always been this way, is, and will be. So this is normal.
— For now, the focus is mainly on work without the ball, on physical endurance... How enjoyable are these running exercises for a footballer?
— It's generally not enjoyable, but it's necessary to prepare for the season, for the first game in optimal conditions. Basically, for us, it's nothing new; we do the same things as always.
— There are also many young footballers in this training camp. How do you work with them? And are they managing to seek guidance from more experienced players?
— It’s just the first training session, so we’ll see later, I think. The coaches have probably noticed something about those who arrived and have taken a look at them. So I hope that someone among them will help and strengthen the team.
— At your age, you were already a world champion with the Ukraine U-20 team. What advice can you give to young guys? After all, you have already gone through this path.
— What to advise? I don’t know, everyone has their own path, and everyone sees things in their own way and feels what they need to do. The main thing, probably, is to work productively and not to raise your nose too high, not to think that you have already achieved something.
— How important is it to listen to older teammates?
— Some need it, some don’t. Some want to listen, some don’t. We advise, try to help as we can. It’s important to listen. Older teammates will not give bad advice, that’s for sure.
— Have you set any personal goals for yourself during this training camp?
— The preparation period is long. What do I expect from it? To prepare for the first official game (against Galatasaray on January 21 in the Europa League — ed.) as well as possible, and then to prepare well for the second half of the season.
Yes, there is little time left before the match against Galatasaray, but there is still time until the Ukrainian championship resumes. So the main task for each of us is to prepare and approach the Europa League matches and the second half of the season in the best possible shape, to be ready at 100% and, most importantly, healthy.
— Previously, training camps were divided into two parts, but now there's one long period, practically a month and a half. Is it necessary to be more psychologically prepared for this?
— I think so. Here it’s more psychologically important to tune in, because the period is indeed long. But I think we might get some day off, which we will need. We are expecting good work, and without days off, it will not be easy, so to speak.
