“They don’t name the killer of the grandees”: Shomurodov about the goals to the RPL leaders, Dzuba’s possible move to England and relations with Karpin

- In the final match of the Parimath Premier Cup, you scored two goals and brought victory to CSKA over CSKA. What emotions then experienced?

- It was a friendly match, so there was no overabundance of feelings. The main task was to prepare for the season, so first of all they paid attention not to the result, but to the physical condition.

- To score twice to a team like CSKA is important, even though it happened in a friendly tournament?

- Of course, for the attacker is always important to be marked by goals. It is necessary to go out as charged as possible in the official match, as well as in a friendly one.

- Previously, for "Rostov" you only once distinguished themselves with a double. What is more important for you - two goals against “Tosno” in an official meeting or against CSKA, but in the control?

- The choice is pretty simple. Of course, a goal in a RPL match has a much greater meaning for me. Therefore, I will opt for two balls in a game with a team from the Leningrad Region.

- Over the past year, you have had time to become famous as a chief specialist in matches with giants in the composition of Rostov. Coincidence that your goals fell on matches with Spartak and Krasnodar?

- Actually, just like that. I don’t tune in to meet with top clubs and I want to hit the gate of each opponent. But it so happened that the goals fell on the games with Spartak and Krasnodar.

- After these matches, the partners gave a nickname?

- No, they don't call “the killer of the giants”.

- Of course, Russian footballers are especially tuned to the southern derby or matches with representatives of the top 5. What before these games feels legionnaire?

—Perhaps, domestic athletes really look at meetings with top teams differently, but I prepare myself equally well for every opponent. For me the matches against Spartak or CSKA are not fundamental.

- Which of the goals in the RPL is the most memorable for you?

- It is difficult to single out any one, because everyone helped the team to score points. Probably, I would especially note the ball into the “Spartak” goal. Largely because that evening "Rostov" won.

- In the games against Spartak and Krasnodar you distinguished yourself after the replacement. Are you satisfied that Karpin uses you as a joker?

- Of course, it is always nice to score such teams, but each player would prefer to be on the pitch more. This is the decision of the head coach. It doesn't matter whether I like it or not, but I have to make the most of every opportunity.

- If you had a choice, to become a stable player in the base of Rostov, or to be a substitute in the European top club, but to score a saving goal in the Champions League final, what would you choose?

- Without a doubt, I would like to gain a foothold in the "Rostov".

- Every athlete in his youth has an idol. Who is yours?

- Fernando Torres and Didier Drogba.

- If the conversation turned to the stars of world football, who is better - Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo?

- I prefer Messi. But now both of these players are rightly considered the best in the world. But if you choose between performance and talent, then I will choose the latter.

- Now the most expensive player, according to the portal Transfermarkt, is Odil Akhmedov, who performs in China. Have you received any offers to go to the Middle Kingdom?

- Not yet.

- Many football players in the prime of their lives decided to leave the European clubs and move to China. Is this a clean pursuit of money?

- I think this is the choice of each player.

At this moment, Rostov’s head coach Valery Karpin joined the conversation and asked his client several questions.

- Does China have a sports component?

- Of course. In the Middle Kingdom is a good championship, in which many stars of world football play.

- Would you now agree to join the team from China?

- Not at the moment.

- And why? There is also a sports component, and the stars?

- But all this is not at the same level as in Russia.

Having received a satisfactory answer, Karpin patted Shomurodov on the head in a paternal manner and left.

- At one time, Artyom Dziuba also received an offer from China, but recently admitted that he would like to continue his career in the Premier League. Can a Russian player in 30 years move to England?

- Why not? Of course, he is no longer young, but on the other hand, Dzyuba has enough experience to succeed in the European Championship.

- At the same time, Dzuba can hardly count on moving to the top club and will have to be content with the middle team. Is it worth it to refuse to play in the Champions League in the "Zenith"?

- I would not lose the chance to try my hand at Foggy Albion. In my opinion, the English Premier League is the best football championship in Europe.

- What about the Spanish Primera?

- I think everyone is of the opinion that at the moment the championship of England is superior to all others. In this case, it is worth paying tribute to the Spanish championship, in which several top teams compete.

- If you were now offered to go to the conventional “Aston Villa” without a guarantee of a place in the composition, would you agree?

- I can not answer this question. At the moment I am defending the colors of Rostov and I think exclusively about the game for this team.

- In Uzbekistan, you quite successfully played for Bunyodkor, and in 2015 you were nominated for the title of “Best Young Football Player of Asia”, but you lost to Dostonbek Khamdamov. On business?

- As far as I remember, the winner of this award was determined immediately after the end of the world youth championship among players under 20 years old. At that tournament, he scored more than me. This was probably the key factor by which he received the award.

- However, from the moment you entrenched in Rostov, he didn’t score a single goal for Anji and returned to Pakhtakor home ...

- I can not say exactly what exactly prevented him from successfully playing in the Russian Premier League. From myself I can say that he possessed all the necessary qualities to start playing for Anji. He is a very good player, perhaps something was missing.

- Recently, CSKA President Yevgeny Giner presented a plan for expanding the league, according to which clubs from Belarus, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and so on can join the tournament. Is this a good idea?

- In my opinion, this is an interesting proposal. I believe that such a team as Pakhtakor would be able to perform quite successfully in the RPL.

- “Rostov” sets the task to get into the European Cups this season?

- While we have not yet discussed with the leadership of the task for the next year. But we don’t have much doubt that they will be waiting for us to enter the zone of the Europa League. We will try to cope.

- In the past, the team had a great first half of the season, but the second did not look so confident. Not enough strength or depth of the composition?

“I don’t think this was exactly the case.” What is in the first, that in the second round, “Rostov” very often lost points in matches with outsiders. I believe that this was the reason that eventually took only ninth place.

- A huge role in the success of the team is played by the coach. How would you characterize Karpin?

- In a nutshell, it is quite difficult to do. Of course, as a coach, Valery Georgievich is sometimes very demanding and tough, but at the same time he communicates very openly with the players.

- How big is the difference between Karpin on and off the field?

- During training, he is not shy in expressions, he can make it clear that he is not satisfied with the actions of this or that ward. But in personal communication he is completely different: he is friendly with everyone, treats everyone kindly.